I’ve spent the last week or so preparing a workshop for leaders. Concluding a section on leadership struggles, I thought, “This is beginning to sound like a downer! Leadership, as tough as it is, also brings great joy.” I took out a sheet of paper and wrote, “The surpassing joy of leadership is…” and began filling in the blank. Here’s what I came up with. What would you add?
The surpassing joy of leadership is resting in Christ’s righteousness to draw those we shepherd to rest in Christ’s righteousness.
The surpassing joy of leadership comes in inviting the weary and heavy-laden to come to Jesus and exchange yokes of performance, pleasing, pressure, and independence for his “light and easy” yoke: trusting his mission, doing his work, telling his story, loving his creation.
The surpassing joy of leadership is doing higher math: watching as one become two, two become four, four become sixteen…exponential multiplication of men and women living and loving in the Gospel Story.
The surpassing joy of leadership is growing unity: helping twelve become one, each part functioning fully in its purpose and beauty, to present a living body glorifying the God who formed them.
The surpassing joy of leadership is tending a garden: weeds, shrubs, roses, sunflowers, herbs, string beans, and more: God’s multi-variegated species growing and flourishing in wild worship service of the Creator God.
