God began a new work in my life. Just before I left my parents’ house, my dad came out to my car in the driveway and said, “Son, you were born to be a leader. So go and lead. I’m praying for you.” I acknowledged his enthusiasm and words of encouragement continued on my way. I drove my car to camp, so I had four hours to prepare myself spiritually for what was about to come.
I listened to a sermon by one of my spiritual advisors, Anthony de Mello on the way there. He told a story of a man walking along the path while on a journey. He came across an egg that was on the side of the road. He decided to rescue the egg. Nearly a mile ahead was a chicken coop. Not knowing what kind of egg it was, he placed the egg in the care of the hens. He thought at least with the hens, maybe the egg will have a chance to live.
When the egg hatched he proved to be an eagle. An eagle which grew up among chickens. The eagle walked like chickens, clucked like chickens and grew to think like a chicken.
In his latter years he was outside one day looking up at the sky. He saw an eagle soaring in the sky. He thought to himself, “If only I were born like that bird. Then my life would have had meaning. Then life would have had purpose. Then I would have been happy. Not too many days later, the eagle, which was born a chicken died. He never became aware of the life he was born to live (Ephesians 5:14).
De Mello went on to say that there are those destined to be leaders. They must recognize the gifts God has placed within them and strive to be all that God has planned (2 Cor. 12)
I felt like God was telling me that He had a plan for me to be a leader (2 Samuel 15:22) but the way that I would become His leader is by serving with love (Romans 12:9-15). So, that was my goal for the week of Training Camp ~ to serve with a loving heart (1 John 4:4-14).
Toward the end of the week, I was asked by the AIM staff to pray about being a Team Leader for the HOLLA-lujah team. I walked outside of the door and soaring out from behind a cloud was the bird.
As soon as I saw him, it all clicked. I knew God was calling me to soar (Isaiah 41:9-10). So, pray for me as I follow God on this adventure in leading an amazing team by serving!
