20090101

catch me if you can?

on my way home from a few hours of 'promisedland' moments a couple of nights ago, i had the rare privilege of learning something about leadership.

we were on a convoy, heading out from the 'recesses' of campo trexo to manila..

the lead car's driver was driving so fast, we almost lost him twice. we tried to catch up with him and it is on one of the last few left turns that we almost got hit by a speeding car. right at that moment, i muttered in my breath, "thank God!"

saying that we missed death by a thin hairline could be an understatement, but i don't want to dwell so much on the mishap that could have ensued -- if our driver was so intent on following the lead driver's pace.

i was reminded of John Maxwell's words in 'The Maxwell Leadership Bible': "If you call yourself a Christian, you are called to lead others."

i am not so much of a leader, i am still growing on the area of self-leadership. i was given, however, the task of shepherding my family -- including my mom -- into a growing relationship with Jesus. i also take it as part of my 'responsibility' as a Christian to share Jesus with my closest friends. as i have learned that God is after not my religion but my intimate, personal relationship with Him, i have learned that leading others to a knowledge of His merciful love and never-ending grace entails one big C: COMPASSION.

the way i understand things, pretty much in the same way that it isn't healthy to dwell on the hurts of our past, it is also not that helpful to rest on the laurels of our spiritual victories.

it is a privilege to have been "saved by grace, by faith.." and as i "lead" others to Christ, i am always reminded to pace WITH them and not let them put up with me. i am guilty of sometimes being too deep to be grasped, sometimes so self-righteous and when that happens, i am grateful to be reminded to humble myself in God's eyes.

the Christian's race "against" the world, though an endurance race, is not about who finishes first. it is a lifestyle of training and pacing with siblings in the faith, helping one another up and encouraging one another: not one of comparison, competition or "catch me if you can" spirituality.

what i really loved learning that night was the fact that it also helps to know CLEARLY who we are following. we were following the right car just before that nearly-fatal-left turn but at some point during the long drive, for some unknown reason, we lost track of him and followed the wrong one!

in my walk with God, He has blessed me with people who pray for me, pray with me and tell me up front when i seem so frazzled and need to loosen up. when i lose my focus and tend to be looking at the wrong picture (or model) of leadership, i am reminded:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

JESUS gave out the invitation, "Come, follow Me." but never did He say.. "catch Me if you can," did He?

JESUS became man Himself yet, when He was here, He "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant," (Philippians 2:6-7).

with these, i rest.

2 comments:

  1. oh my gosh! the peace of God transcends all understanding...I was so relaxed and had so much faith that God is with us...we really prayed and the Lord was with us..No wonder Yo tried to peek out of the window!! :-( he would not let me drive kasi :-( Praise God he was in control the whole time

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  2. praise God, indeed. :')

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