Leaders stand alone

My former pastor was fond of say that if you are leading and no one is following you, you are just taking a walk.

There is some truth to that, however, sometimes, you are leading - even if no one is behind you. Always, there is someone watching you.

Perhaps it is the difference between positional and servant leadership. Positional leaders are given the job or voted into office. And perhaps, they need to have followers.

There is nothing wrong with analyzing or re-analyzing, refining, re-defining, sharping and refocusing. However, if you are expecting people to instantly follow you, perhaps you need to rethink that.

People are creatures of habit and they really don't embrace change well. Most of us don't need another task or calling.

Servant leadership is different. No one votes you in, but after you have done it long enough, well enough, they may try to vote you out! You become the expert by doing the job that no one else wants. By trying the reach the people group that don't have money or power or position. Just hearts that Jesus loves.

And sometimes, the things God calls us to are things that are so low on the church totem pole: Do we really need to be concerned with "those" kids? (Locked up, troubled, trailer park, dropouts - fill in the blank ___________) Do we really need to empty the trash? Do really need to get up and be at the school at 6:30 am? Can't they come to my Wednesday night youth service? There were only six teachers at the Christian Teacher Lunch. See they don't need a lunch.

I've been in ministry since 1981 and my experience is that, sometimes, you just do what you are suppose to. What God has called you to do - over and over again. Whether anyone follows or not. You just do it - because it is the right thing to do. Because it needs done. Because someone needs it. Because it helps. Because it reaches. Because God said to.

You do it until you are use to doing it alone and lonely. You celebrate what God is doing. Alone. You tell your stories to people who never saw it that way before. You wonder how they could have seen it any other way.

One day, someone is behind you and you assume they must be lost. "Can I help you?" And nope, they are dying to empty the trash with you. Wow. Novel, you think. A fellow servant.

And what is really novel is when they come back. To do it again. You love them. They share your heart and passion for trash. They are your kindred spirit. You share a bond - the kind that only comes from serving beside one another.

And they introduce you to their friends: This is Dottie, she empties the trash better then anyone I know. Yes, she taught me everything I know about emptying the trash.

Then, they invite you to their Sunday Class, where you do a devotional on "Trash - Reaching the ones that really matter."

And then they want you to teach a class. "Trash - getting the ones others throw away."

And then, there is a movement: "Trash - who knew it was a treasure."

And then you are an expert. Who knew? Who ever saw this coming?

It doesn't matter. I have to empty the trash.