Leader to Leader
“...It seemed good also to me....”
[Luke 1:3 NIV]
Issue #6: August, 2008
I recall the story of a flock of geese flying majestically overhead in a “V” formation. The head goose, the leader of the “V,” suddenly veered out, leaving a vacancy. The lead position was promptly filled by the goose flying behind him in formation. The former lead goose then flew alongside the formation, dropping back until he found a place at the back of the line. The geese never missed a beat and kept right on flying.
This story demonstrates well the value of community. People who share a common direction and sense of community can address the challenges in life much quicker if they don’t try to do life alone because they’re traveling on the thrust of one another.
Pastor Beverly Muffin,
Crystal Cathedral Global Community
I am going to guess that you’ve all read this story sometime in the past, or one very similar to it. I personally have seen several different versions floating around, especially in these days of the World Wide Web.
This illustration has always been a powerful picture of leadership to me. This story reminds me of one of my favorite Scripture passages, from Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint.”
This story comes your way today because you, as elected leaders of Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena, are now 83.33% of the way through your time of responsibility. Elections will take place again this December during our Voters’ Assembly. It’s time for each of you as leaders to do some thinking.
How are your “wings?” Have you been “flapping” like crazy over the past 20 months, alone or with others? Are your “wings” tired? Is this going to be a good time for you to rotate out of the lead and allow someone else to take the lead?
Our “wings” can get tired in a whole variety of ways. Maybe we got ourselves into something that has turned out to be something different from what we originally intended. Maybe responsibilities in other areas of our lives have changed, meaning we’ve been able to spend less time doing what we’ve been elected to do than what we had originally planned. Maybe we’ve encountered health or other problems that will prevent us from continuing in the lead. Maybe we’ve just faced one frustration or disappointment after another, souring the taste of leadership in our mouth. Maybe you will be “term-limited” out of office, apart from exception granted by the Voters’ Assembly.
How are your “wings?” As your leader, I encourage you to ponder that question over the next couple weeks. Ponder it seriously. Spend some time with that question.
In the next few weeks you will be approached for a decision to either allow yourself to stand for re-election or to recommend someone to replace you during the December elections.
Whether you decide to allow your name to stand for re-election, or whether you decide this is a good time to rotate into a new position in the “V” formation we know as Historic First Lutheran, I would encourage you to find someone to “fly” alongside you. Especially if you are ready to rotate out of the point position, it is IMPORTANT to allow someone to come alongside you during these next 4 months so that you can train that person so that continuity on 1 January 2009 continues as seamlessly as possible.
If you need any help pondering your decision, I am always available to listen.
God bless your leadership this month! Thanks for reading!
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Senior / Administrative Pastor
Historic First Lutheran Church, Pasadena, CA