In elementary school, they put us in line to go to lunch, to recess and to go home at the end of the day. They usually put us in line from tallest to shortest, oldest to youngest or in alphabetical order.
As a child, I was always the shortest in my class. As an adult, I’m still pretty short. At 5’2”, I have to look up at almost everyone. I was the youngest in my grade; if I’d been born 3 days later, I would have had to graduate an entire year later. My last name starts with a “W” and there weren’t any kids have with a last name starting with X, Y or Z.
So, lucky me, I was always last in line. Oh, except the two times every year, when we lined up in reverse order. That was so cool!! I got to be first in line for once… but wait, how was I supposed to be the “leader?” I always followed…
In elementary and middle school I really didn’t like to be the “leader” of anything. I didn’t know how and I really didn’t want to be responsible for everyone behind me. Besides, following is easier, right??
Just because something is easy doesn’t make it right.
I was given several opportunities to be a leader of a group in high school, and I could have easily turned them down because it would have been the “easy” thing to do.
I was asked by several people to take over the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club. So, for several years, I was able to lead an awesome group of Christian students and just dwell in God’s word together once a week on campus. It made me nervous at first because some of the students were older than me. They were the ones that had been leading me on the court and field for the last several years. I was scared of that much responsibility, and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I am so thankful that I took that opportunity though, because I grew as a person, a leader and a Christian. It took me out of my comfort zone as a follower, and it couldn’t have been a better experience for me.
Later, my best friend and I were given the role of “Co-Captain’s” of the softball team for a couple of years. Once again, I was so nervous. I just wanted someone to tell me when the games were and I would show up ready to play. I didn’t like to boss people around or be in charge of something big, like a softball team. We had the most softball knowledge and we could use this opportunity to share that with our team.
Both leadership opportunities were simply the beginning of what kind of person that I would become. I have learned that being a leader can be a great thing, and I don’t need to be afraid. It is better to lead others to great things, such as, sharing the word of God in my FCA group, or the skills, knowledge and great attitudes that I shared with my softball team.
So, don’t be the last in line. Learn from other leaders, so that when the time comes, you take over and become the leader that you were meant to be. I moved from the back of the line to leader, and so can you!
"It's hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse."
—Adlai E. Stevenson II
