More than feeling good

There is no doubt that we are in the middle of a social revolution. It is a revolution that will change the way we lead, and the way we follow.

One of the major causes I am pondering today is information overload.

We hear the voices of as many as 50 “leaders” wanting us to become part of their sphere of influence. When we hear this many people vying for our attention, we begin to realize that they are all saying the same thing…and that leaves us no where.

Why should I follow this person instead of that person? They both ask for my allegiance, they both want me to “feel good” about being in their organization, but the bottom line is that I want my life to matter – I don’t really care about “feeling good”.

Then we see the ploys. Many leaders play for our emotions. Our response? Some people really buy into it. Others recognize manipulation and are completely turned off. As a society, we have reached the end of our tolerance for manipulation.

We want our lives to make a difference. We want leaders who will show us how to live, show us how to give, and make sense of our lives. You see, we want leaders who are less concerned about the draw to their organizations, and more concerned about the draw to our individual lives.

One of my bible verses today is: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

What if we had leaders who introduced us to a trustworthy God who we could trust to not be manipulative? What if our leaders showed us how to put down roots so that we could flourish? What if we learned the patience needed to be stable in a world of constant change? Maybe then our lives would make a real difference.