Following Up!
It was a delightful sight so I teased the young guy by saying, "Hey, keep following the guy in front of you!" He seemed more confused than amused. After all, he really didn't have any choice because his father was far stronger and in the front seat!
It occurred to me that we're all following others who are in front of us. In I Corinthians 11:1 the apostle Paul, though admittedly far from perfect, famously said, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." Then in Philippians 4:9 he boldly declared, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
Just like you, I not only follow others but have others following me! We all take turns pedaling in front of others. Just yesterday I gained wisdom and insight from a younger leader I once helped lead to faith. David Limiero grew up in our church and now coaches both kingdom and business leaders around the world. It was a real delight for me to have him turn the tables and offer me some fresh insights with regard to both technology and strategy. I thought of him this morning when I read Proverbs 13:20, "Walk with the wise and become wise."
We all know others who are wiser than we are. Some just seem to be especially gifted to give good counsel. Some of these especially wise souls are mentioned in I Chronicles 12:32, "From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take."
On occasion those I lead ask me for wisdom. They wonder about a lot of things:
How should they manage a difficult staff or family member?
What should they read to enrich their soul or to address a certain sermon topic?
When should they confront or cut off a toxic relationship?
Where should they go to get the best ice cream?
I don't have the wisdom for any and every issue. However, I'm told that I often provide some helpful insights. That doesn't surprise me. I know that God enlightens me daily especially through my reading and reflecting. My primary source book is the Bible, but from time to time I find another book that prompts me in an exceptional way. That just happened after reading a book my friend Bryan Myers sent entitled, The Gap and the Gain.
The authors recommend finding and recording three wins every day. I now refer to them as my Wonder-Full Wins! As a result I see that I'm always winning. There's not a day goes by that I don't thank God for my wonder- filled life. This led to a breakthrough discovery for me. I've long wondered just why I get so much satisfaction from reading and reflecting on my calendar and journal entries. Now I know. Every day I am looking for insights on both my wins and God's wisdom. Every day I find them!
What if you determined to follow me in this enriching practice? This I know, if you do you will gain far more than you can imagine. Everyone follows others. Who are you following right now?
Blessings,
Alan Ahlgrim, CSO
Chief Soul Care Officer
Covenant Connections for Pastors covenantconnections.life