Higher Up the Flagpole

I used to say more often that the higher up the flag pole you are, the more your butt sticks out. It is not a dark parable. It picture-esquely acknowledges that leaders get looked at, and when you’re more visible you are, turns out, more visible, including the less flattering parts.

This is one reason why people don’t want to lead. Who wants to set themselves up for more criticism? Even before it becomes questioning, leadership involves a lot of questions. Someone says, “Why are you over there?” The leader says, “I’m over here to invite you to a better place.” The other says, “Who made you the boss?”

Even when a man is gifted to lead, and Romans 12:8 includes leading as a spiritual gift for sake of the whole body, he will be tempted to stand back with the group instead of stand out in front. He will be tempted to wait for consensus, or even push them forward, instead of taking the first steps.

But leading means being out front. It means taking the flag, planting it, and even climbing the pole if you need to. It requires spoude, zeal. It takes zeal not just to think ahead and move forward, it takes zeal to be patient with the fussers.

Are you gifted by God to lead? Lead in fellowship and for fellowship. Go first, plant the flag, pray for fruit.