We hate to admit it.
But, we are, by nature, followers……we are sheep.
There are very few true leaders out there. The funny part of this is that we don’t realize this basic truth in our lives. We each like to believe that we are independent thinkers, the captain of our fate. But…..for better or worse…….this is just not true. For almost all of us there is a single idea, person, or thing that we follow. We tell ourselves that we have chosen our leader because the person, thing, or idea is somehow good. But, the truth is that we will follow even when our leader, our boss, is clearly doing something bad. The further along we go, the more rigid we become. We stop hearing anybody but our boss. We discard any idea that the boss doesn’t like. We only watch Fox news…..or CNN. This is how people who are fundamentally good and smart wind up in a crowd following someone who is clearly evil……..think Hitler. FWIW this post is not about Trump and Pelosi. I don’t want you to focus on the “evil” person or idea that the other guy is following……..I want you to critically examine the boss whom you are following. Most of us have never done this. For most of us, we live our lives walking down a path that has been laid out by another. A great many of us get to the end of that path and ask “how in the world did I wind up here?” It’s pretty simple……you got “here” because the boss you were following led you here…… and he did it for his, her, or its purpose. In order to avoid future disappointment or worse……..you need to know who is leading you……you need to have an idea of where they are taking you.
So who…..or what …….are you following?
Here are some candidates:
The Republican party
The Democratic party
Your job
Addiction
Money
Status
Fame
Hatred
Pleasure
Fitness
God
Satan
It can be surprisingly difficult to know who is at the head of the line you are in. Fact is, most of us have never even looked onto it. But, rest assured, as long as you stay in line, you will wind up exactly where THEY want you to go.
The best way to know whom you are following is to examine the forks in your path. Look back at choices that you have made…..especially grey zone choices. You might even make a list. Look down the list and ask what authority informed your choice. Why did you make the decision that you made?
Here are examples of “forks in the road”:
Who did you marry?
What job did you take?
Who did you vote for?
The last lie that you told
Your last act of kindness
The last thing that you did or didn’t steal (ever heard of the “use tax”…….its the sales tax that you are supposed to pay on things you order on the internet…….and that you probably don’t report on your state income tax form)
Last Sunday……..did you relax with your family…..or work
Are gun control and abortion right or wrong?
Look at these decisions. In particular, consider the ones that made you just a little uncomfortable. Those are the forks where you followed the boss…….and they are the key to your leader’s identity.
Once you have identified your leader, then you can get an idea of what destination he has chosen…….for you. Then, you can decide if that is the destination that you would choose.
If you don’t like what you see…….watch for the next fork in the road. Decide based on a new leader. The old leader will tug at you, but at each subsequent fork, choosing the new path……following your new leader will get easier.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God, NIV
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Jesus, NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus, NIV