“True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. True service is never without cost. Often it comes with a bitter cup of challenges and a painful baptism of suffering. For genuine godly leadership weighs carefully Jesus’ question: “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” (Mark 10:38). The real spiritual leader is focused on the service he and she can render to God and other people, not on the residuals and perks of high office or holy tile. We must aim to put more into life than we take out.”
“Leader” is a word I have never been fond of. Like most people, I’ve gotten involved in something and became a leader. Whether that be captain of a sports team, youth group leader, or an executive board member in my sorority, I pushed myself to a higher position.
I realized that I only desired to be a leader because of the title. I selfishly wanted the position without the responsibility. I wanted to be a follower with the facade of being a leader. It made me feel important, yet I didn’t want to actively participate. Its tedious, exhausting, heartbreaking and challenging.
Bottom line: I was not ready to be a leader and I had not become a leader for the right reasons.
“When our motives are right, this work pays eternal dividends.”
Two days ago, while sitting in a Chick-fil-a drive thru (lol) contemplating what my life will look like on the Race, I decided that I want to be a leader. I want this with my entire self, in all of its challenges and hardships. I want to lead my team with encouragement and joy and I want to lead the people I will meet with love and compassion, glorifying the name of God.
This is not something I only want for myself, I want this for my squad as well.
Over the past couple of months, I have realized that my squad is full of some seriously incredible people. I have been fortunate enough to see glimpses of true leadership in them during our daily group chats.
There are those who lead in song, lead in peace, lead in prayer, lead in community or lead in joy, just to name a few. I realized that we do not have a “squad leader” but we have a squad full of leaders. Each one of us is a leader in different aspects of our lives.
My prayer is that my squad sees these qualities in themselves that I already see in them. My prayer is that each and every friend on my squad desires to be the leaders they are called to be, selflessly giving their strengths to service each other, as well as the people of this world. My prayer is that I lead to glorify the Kingdom and stay steadfast in that prayer during the challenges we face.
“True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others.”
I am excited to serve along side these leaders and I’m proud to call C-Squad my family!
