Serving Bread

Like many other high school ‘over-achievers’  I held many  “leadership” positions in the various organizations. I was editor for the yearbook and newspaper, one of the leaders of the Christian club, and also of my church youth group.

Most of these leadership positions were “clock-in, clock-out” kind of jobs. I did what I had to do in the particular role, but for the most part, these roles just kept me busy and they looked really good on my college applications (at least I thought so).

But for one of these roles–News editor for the award-winning newspaper–I gave way more of myself. I skipped out on work (usually during the afternoons), stayed up late at night, got to school early, and spent my lunch and recess breaks in the news room.

We had editorial meetings on a weekly basis, and it was one of the hardest things I had done up to that time of my life. I know I was giving above and beyond the call of the job.

One of the key insights in the past couple years for me has been that the call of leadership requires the giving of myself beyond the minimum requirements of the tasks of leadership. As I grow older and my family life becomes more complex (marriage, family), leadership within certain bounds is somewhat attractive. It is attractive because I can have clear boundaries between work and personal life.

But leadership confined within a job description can lose its authenticity and authority. Leadership is not just a hat I wear at certain times of the day or week, but it is what God has called me to be (at the very least, in this season of life). I’m a leader when I’m upfront preaching, or hanging out with students. I’m a leader both during the “work-week” and on my days off.

If we are to truly give ourselves in leadership, we have to pay attention to:

• What are the things that rejuvenate us? How are we going to find the time to fill the tank that will inevitably go empty if we give ourselves in such a way?
• What kind of clarity of expectations do we need to have with family or friends?
• How are we growing in our call, outside of our particular job description?

When I give of myself, it can be costly as I find my energy drained faster and often, my time may not feel my own. But what I love about giving of myself is that the more I give, the more I am convinced of my calling, my choices, and my mission. The more I give of myself in my leadership, the closer I feel to God, and the more joy I have for myelf and my family within my community.

As I continue to grow in my leadership, I am shifting from seeing leadership reduced to a job description, to seeing it as a calling on my life, within a particular context.

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