Shuffling Leaders

OK, if confession is good for the soul, then my wife and I will be super healthy.

Michele and I are involved in a ongoing debate over the best technique for selecting NFL football coaches.

Pretty much every team that failed to produce a winning season, fired their coach as soon as their season concluded.  About 1/2 the teams fired their head coaches and began searching for a new fearless leader that will insure their teams success.

In the back of my mind, I can hear jack-in-the-box music building in intensity as the moment for the clown to pop out draws closer and closer.

I suspect that this is how teams select their head coaches.

When the music stops and the clown pops out -- the coach standing in front of you is your leader.

Michele thinks that is silly and is promoting a simple lottery drawing.  Stick your hand in the helmet and grab a piece of paper.  The name on the paper is the name of your new head coach.

I mention this because it reveals how little people know about leadership and team development.

Leadership is getting under people and lifting them up -- developing them -- building them -- encouraging them.  Supplying them with whatever they need to succeed.  This is time consuming and requires patience.

"All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around David, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him." 1 Samuel 22:2

Absolutely fascinating reading is 2 Samuel 23:8-39

David was a natural leader that was hiding in the desert for personal reasons.  And the dregs of society heard he was out there and since they had nowhere better to be or anything more pressing, they wandered out to see what he was doing.

David took the time to train the people God sent his way.

David was not responsible for the people living in Jerusalem because that was not where God put him or the people God put under his influence.

So David took the time to train some of societies outcasts into one of the greatest fighting units this world has ever witnessed.

But it took time and patience.

My point?  Cut the leader God put over you some slack.  Allow that person to learn and develop.  Hold that person up in prayer as God moves and transforms.  And finally, trust that God is good and knows what He is doing.

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. 
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, 
and give thanks for them. 
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority 
so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives 
marked by godliness and dignity"
1 Timothy 2:1-2