Keep Your Eye on the Ball

I’m taking what I am calling an “after-work vacation” (I know, pretty creative…any other suggestions?).

A few weeks ago I realized life was getting too crammed with “stuff” during the week. My natural tendancy is to fill it with so much “stuff”  that I block out the things God really has to say and what he really wants from me. It’s a lot easier to focus my time on acheiving, succeeding, pushing, furthering, and progressing, then to sit still, rest, shut up, and listen.

So I called my weekly commitments  and apologized that I would not be joining them this week. It’s been two days since this experiment began (an experiment I should say I didn’t have very high expectations for) and…man…wow…”Hey God, whats up? Didn’t realize you had so much to say.”

Here’s the overarching message. I share this because I don’t think I’m the only one who needs to hear this.:

I’m a leader. I’m a Christian. I’m a creative thinker with a passion for people and the gospel. As a result, I’ve admired, followed, respected, and sought out people who share these same passions and are making a profound impact on the church and culture. Whether they’re pastors, authors, worship leaders, or bloggers, I often find myself studying them, learning their strategies, listening to their podcasts, gleaning from their wisdom.

Nothing wrong with that instinctively, right? But lately I’ve been discouraged at the realization that every one of these leaders isn’t perfect. They actually say things I don’t agree with sometimes. They make decisions once in a while that aren’t ethical. Sometimes their words and ministries seem contrived.

What’s that all about?  And another thought:  If I can see the faults in these guys I wonder if other people see all the jacked up crap in my life as “a leader in training.” Who should I follow? Who  should I model my life after? Whose theology am I going to line up with?

This internal dialogue is all happening inside my head on my way home from work when suddenly “Jesus takes the wheel.”

…sorry.

But seriously, after a few days of slowing down and listening a little closer I could hear God’s voice say very clearly…”Just try to live like Jesus. His leadership.  His characteristics. His theology.

Draw near.

Draw near.

Draw near.

Just one of those father-son “keep your eye on the ball” conversations. You were probably looking for something a little more profound from a guy who’s been following Christ for 18 years, but the truth is everytime I feel like I’ve made it to the majors, God takes a week like this and  puts me back in Little League.

And I’m ok with that.