As Coaches we are leaders. Leadership is implied by the title, isn't it? What do leaders do? Well, they lead. The buck stops with them, they chart the course, they pave the way, they make the plans, and so on.
What else do leaders do? They follow. Watch an NFL playoff game and you'll see it. Lovie Smith learned from Tony Dungy who learned from Chuck Noll. Rex Ryan learned from his Dad. Mike McCarthy learned from Paul Hackett who learned from John Robinson. It seems like half the playcallers in the NFL can be traced back to Bill Walsh, and certainly Coach Walsh wasn't born an offensive guru. He had to follow someone else first too.
Great leaders are followers of great leaders. And every one of us is following someone or something. I watched a very gifted pastor a couple weeks back, and marveled at his command of God's Word and his ability to communicate truth to our congregation. It dawned on me that it's possible for him to be so effective only because he must be doing a really, really good job of following Jesus in his own life. And thinking about that made me want to do the same. I want to lead effectively - in my family and in my work, and the only way I can do that at my maximum potential is to allow God to lead others through me. Sound weird? Maybe.
In John chapter 10, Jesus talks about how his followers, or "sheep", recongnize his voice. He pledges to "lay down his life for his sheep", a very strong statement regarding the love he has for those who follow him. He states that he gives his sheep eternal life, and that no one can snatch them from his hand. He is leading them toward eternal safety, and they gladly follow. Reading that makes me wonder, do those who follow me recognize my voice and understand the love I have for them? Or do I communicate selfishness that causes them to tune me out? Do they know where I am leading them? For that matter, do I know where I'm leading them? Am I relying on the Lord to lead me as I lead others? Can I honestly look my sons, athletes, other Coaches in the eye and say to them, "follow me as I follow Jesus"?
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