The importance of leadership isn’t a new topic. Having a leader for a specific group is a necessity. We have our Leader, and as I understand it, are on track, giving our best efforts to emulate Him.
A new topic/school of thought is the ability, skill, and absolute necessity for everyone to lead as best as they see fit. To define their own parade, the ways they would emulate Him, and to take things the step further as they understand it.
There are some details in here that are important, but it’s important to note there is a strain, a need, to have a community that one can depend on to create and develop a better understanding of their own parade. People you can depend on to help as you scream, cry, hurt, or rejoice, love, and flourish in your own understanding of Him, and the ways he’s asking you to move forward. A place to ask “can you help me figure this out” without being hurt while out on that limb.
In integrated communities, where individuals have multiple parades going, or multiple views of the same God, it becomes increasingly difficult. Not because “they’re wrong” and “you’re right” but because our own understandings, our own stories, are fueled by an equal passion that may sometimes be passion in very different directions.
The risk of leadership isn’t in telling other people they’re wrong and having to defend your stance, it’s the epitome of being passionate about your own relationship with God, and leading in that way in the idea that others will also resonate on the same beating heart beat.
I am angry at the other parades, not because I feel they are leading or deceiving, but because I feel so passionate about my parade, that I can’t see any other reason to go a different route. Why consider following Him in a legalistic way when the way I am familiar with feels so much more freeing and life giving? It’s difficult to consider that others my feel equally passionate, and that God may also work through their parades regardless of how complacent I see them.
The best I can do is define my parade as clearly as possible, and hope that you’d join me. I would ask if you’d join me, but haven’t spent as much time clearly and consistently defining my parade. I will do that in the next coming posts. Please, post your own parade as you see. I hope you see me as one to trust while you go out on that limb. I see you as that, as well. And I need you.