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Letters to Lead

What does it mean to lead? How does one define a leader? How can we distinguish between a good leader and a bad leader? Is there such a thing? Is it always a subjective answer?

I love this question/s as I have sought to discern - primarily from God’s word - how to answer all the above. Defining leadership inevitably begs the question, “who am I leading and where am I going?” The how and why obviously matter greatly as we drill down into the meaning and matter of all things leadership.

No way we will exhaust this topic, but my hope for this morning is to simply ask myself and you, how best can I lead those whom God has entrusted to me? How is leadership defined from God’s perview and thus how ought this ultimately shape yours and mine? Let’s discuss.

There are many many many ways to lead. Quiet, demonstrative, vocal, by example, soft, hard, intense, gentle, action focused, word driven, unyielding, humble, strong fisted, tender touch, all or some of the above and on and on we go. Perhaps the question any leader must answer or identify is: “What is my MOTIVE?” That which motivates, defines and shapes how we live and lead. A good strong leader must ask themselves with regularity, “What is moving me to this action? What is my why?” 

Motives expose us. They are revelatory and demand constant, consistent examination because if I am honest, many things cause me to sway. To swerve, to question, to doubt. And in those moments of sway, if my ultimate foundational motive gets lost and I allow myself to be unmoored, I will undoubtedly lose my way. As a leader, that is problematic for not just me, but for those who God has entrusted me with. 

This morning I was reading Romans 12 (bare with me, as my thoughts will be rambly, but I promise to land the plane!)

Familiar to many, verses 1 + 2  of Romans 12 were poignant in my quest to refine my understanding of leadership.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 After reading a very familiar directive, I felt the Spirit lead me to write down and define the following words:

Mercy - compassion, forbearance toward an offender

Sacrifice - offering, surrender for the sake of something higher

Worship - honor, adoration, reverence

Conform - to be in harmony, become similar with

Transform - to change in condition, nature, character with

Renew - restore or replenish

Test - the means by which the present quality or genuineness of anything is determined - the trial of the quality of something

Approve - consent or agree to, confirm, validate

Will - expected, required to, determined, sure to

As I go back and read with the above clarity of these terms, I find wisdom personified - leadership at its finest, and ultimately my MOTIVE defined:

In other words:

Keeping ever before me God’s compassionate forbearance towards ME (wholly undeserved or earned) LIVE - LEAD (run my race!) surrendered to my God knowing this is the ultimate way to honor, adore and revere my heavenly Father. As tempting as it is, resist and defy my inclination to harmonize with the world around me, determine to change my mental meanderings to be similar and incline my heart, soul and mind to become like my Creator - this through a restored renewed thought life (oh the power of our minds!) In so doing, I WILL be able to assess, validate and confirm the genuineness and quality of what God has laid before me, discerning His leading. HIS LEADING!! He leads, therefore I can (must even!) too. All the above are required for those who seek to follow a holy loving God as He beckons us to live and lead as He calls

So, leadership, first and foremost, must begin with a yielded life to God - my MOTIVE - one abiding in Him. Once committed to that surrender, we begin to see God unfolding places to walk, people to lead, patterns to follow. This is where it gets fun! No one leader is the ultimate defining example. I started this letter citing multiple ways to lead. The question for you and for me is am I searching and thus discovering the particulars of leadership that GOD is setting before me? These particulars always align with His character and His plan + will, but the variances come in a diverse people. You and I are different and that is by design. He has gifted us according to His desired plan and purposes. Embrace those gifts as you love and serve HIM! Then….LEAD!!!

My goal in all letters from this creative sojourner is to sharpen us both as we seek to live and learn how best to lead and love those around us. Carry on!

Letters from a Creative Sojourner

Letters from a creative sojourner { sojourner; a temporary resident } 

First, let me explain. Creative is clear on its face, but what am I suggesting in the temporary? Exactly that. We are visitors here in this world, not more than a mere breath. Hard to refute in terms of history and eternity combined. If we understand our nature as creative yet finite, how should we embrace this brief time? Great question. 

My hope is to unpack this truth and encourage anyone listening to be emphatically insistent on capturing this idea of creative sojourner and embracing a life fully lived out from this center. These writings and live discussions will come from a viewpoint of faith in a mighty God who has made us in HIS image for purposes that bring meaning to our broken world and glory to his beloved name. 

That is it. 

IT meaning - my purpose in taking the time to intentionally share - examine, explore, discuss, encourage, exhort - is simply to bring light when it feels dark. Hope when all seems lost, inspiration when dullness arrives. 

We are here for a reason. You. Me. Purpose. 

If we feel the tug of time while desperately trying to find and bring meaning to our life without being tethered to the ONE who created us - in HIS IMAGE - we will wander. We are prone to it. As I walk into this next season wrapping up my 50th decade, I would be REMISS to insist on solitude, refuge and slow living in an effort to unintentionally hoard all God has made known to me in the light and the dark. 

He has led me through much, and refined me in unrelenting love and there is nothing of more value for me than to simply share His goodness, faithfulness + loving kindness. These things were sometimes delivered  in a whisper, or a gentle soft disciplinary hand. Other instances of His work in my life came from intense correction as God can do as He pleases to bring about His will and good. In other words, I am a stubborn rebellious child, and often the gentle whisper simply does not land as it should…

You see, God does NOT withhold good. EVER. And if we allow ourselves to live our lives believing there is some better good out there, outside of our grasp, that God keeps from us, we will drift. Disintegrate into what ifs and if onlys.

Therefore, time to go. NOW!  Adventuring into the today and immersing ourselves in the now. In the going. And the doing. Keeping this space somewhat vague with clear intention will make for a great adventure, organically becoming whatever and exactly all that God has in mind…holding on loosely, I am so thankful for your willingness to link arms as we sojourn together.

Colleen

Here Am I

In Isaiah’s writings, we find a compelling statement as he seemingly overhears + subsequently responds to God’s question in the heavenlies “Whom shall we send?” There is much to say about this incredible interaction but for me and for now, these three words have been churning in my spirit. 

Pick me! I am listening! I am ready to go…HERE AM I!!!  

2022 brought to a close our business and its numerous beautiful moments of mission +  connection, creatively gathering and stewarding as best we knew how. Life changing, as we leapt into the unknown, believing God would meet us in those steps of faith… and oh the stories I could tell! Through tornado + pandemic, we saw God do incredible things which ultimately ignited a passion within our family to serve together…

 When we see chapters coming to a close, some of us like to sit in those moments and reflect and rest, others like to move through quickly, onto the next adventure. 

I have found myself lingering in the in-between, longing to learn from past chapters while preparing and dreaming about those to come.

Dabbling with new websites, inspiring templates and various platforms, the PERFECT had simply not surfaced. Mini stops and starts, momentary vision, but I could not find my footing. I am not afraid to fail but truth be told, I found myself fighting my instinct to just DO SOMETHING.

With that, my youngest son challenged me recently with the best nudge: “Lean into the unknown, embrace the nebulous. That’s where you thrive!” 

Spot. On.

So. While I have teased and tempted you to join along on this journey of vague, my wheels are turning in the fast and uncertain. Ben is right, I do like a touch of chaos - or more - and thus begins the leap into what Alabaster has been from the start - unfettered pursuit of extravagant service to those God brings our way. How? Where? When? 

Looks to me like discovery is close and we will encounter it together :)

Colleen