Another good question from WordPress today. Am I a leader or a follower?
In general terms I would say I am mostly a follower. In most of my jobs I have enjoyed being second in charge and supporting my leader or manager.
My heart or the way I am wired is to serve. So I feel most satisfied when I have a leader to serve, support and encourage. I try and lighten their load and help them to be successful.
In my current role as School Chaplain I see my role to provide pastoral care to the school community and to support and encourage the school Principal. If I am taking care of pastoral care the Principal can focus on other things.
Yes there are times when I have been the leader, but in general terms I am wired to follow. When I do serve, I feel most satisfied.
What gives me direction in life? Jesus. A simple answer to a big question.
Before Jesus I lived life for myself and just did what I thought would make me happy at the time. But if I am honest there was no real direction or purpose.
After reading the Bible and coming to know Jesus a path opened up. It was like I heard Jesus’ words to the disciples, “Come, follow Me”. A new direction and purpose followed.
Like the image above, Jesus is my compass and my true north.
This is another good question. While I like to set goals, they are mostly shorter term. Setting a ten year goal is something that is foreign to me.
So the best way to answer this question is… In ten years time I want to be with Jesus. If I am still alive here on earth I will be trying to walk closely with Him. If my time is over here I will be with Jesus in heaven.
As someone who wants to be a wholehearted follower of Jesus, this is my great hope and the only long term goal I can set… to be with Jesus.
This is a good question today. Something I learned in high school. The first thing that popped in to my head was woodwork. That was not what I expected.
Over the years the basics I learned in high school have really helped. I have made bookshelves, headboards, a bar for our games room, and computer desks for our kids. It has been really helpful and has been a relaxing hobby at times.
The funny thing is that I get to use the things I learned in high school each week. On Wednesdays I follow the high schoolers around and I spend most of the day in woodwork. I encourage the students and assist with their projects. It is an enjoyable day.
When I started woodwork as a 13 year old, I never would have dreamed that I would be helping other students as a school Chaplain some 40+ years later. It is funny how life turns out. My teachers taught me how to use a saw, drill and a chisel. Now I am teaching other kids.