Prepare Your Heart

 “I have made him a witness to be a leader and commander for the people.”  Isaiah 55: 4.

 LEADERSHIP IS EARNED!  The fourth row on my book shelf is dedicated to twenty assorted books on Leadership.  I thought I could learn leadership from books.  What was I thinking?  Leadership is developed through discovery and unbreakable training.

 The purpose of the bike ride must be something more than an adventure to go on or a challenge to a busted-up old man to go the distance.   Is the ride about facing down delusional fear that I don’t have what it takes, the cost is too great, or that I could never bear up under the gut wrenching strain? Is there something greater to face than the obvious physical and emotional doggedness to pull off this exercise?  Absolutely!  My leader and commander mentor Tine Hardeman once told me, “Every now than then the Lord has to stretch us, to test us in order for us to know, without any doubt, that with the Lord’s strength, we can do whatever is required of us.  The end result being strong, mature, growth!”

 I believe the purpose of the bike ride is to accumulate a surfeit of life lessons on leadership and commanding.  I know that grand goals are accomplished by reaching specific objectives which are achieved by the accumulation of small efforts.  Bonnie’s Mother use to say, “Short strokes fell great oaks.”  In reality, greatness is not in the goal; greatness is accomplished by a succession of small yet wise choices.

 A leader and commander mentor, Buck Hatch, told me, “You cannot teach what others know, teach what you know!”  There is a great difference between expounding information and training others in leadership.  Training implies interlocking with others, pulling them along with you as you maneuver through the maze of life, as in the words of Jim Croche, “Who led me down the highway, who ran ahead so life won’t pass me by.”  My leaders and commander mentors locked their arms with mine and pulled me with them demonstrating the lesson in the thick of the encounter.

 I trust the ride will help to produce new understanding, develop more wisdom, hone-in diverse disciplines in order to reach my potential for fulfilled leadership in the fourth quarter of my life.

 “I am the Lord your God, who holds you with My righteous right hand, who leads you in the way you should go.”  What a Leader-Commander-Mentor!                                                                      

 Is your life like one of my books neatly positioned on a shelf filled with information but limited real life application?  Have you resigned your heart to religious theoretical ideas without the tools and skills to produce living character growth? 

 Prepare your heart; the Lord is calling for you!

 In love and service I remain, trusting all to Him and trusting Him for all,   Dangerous Dave  dd