| O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Psalm 84:8 Growing up we spent a lot of time in creeks and rivers, green river, neighborhood creek(maybe sewage overflow by the way it smelled), North Pacolet river, and family property creek. As little kids, our parents guided, instructed and tenderly maneuvered us through the currents. We hopped stone to stone, and other times we flew over the water as our parents passed us one to the other, if the current was too strong. And eventually we found ourselves of age to navigate the currents and landing spots within a river by ourselves, still though, with a watchful eye with us. On a recent morning run these memories flashed in my heart and mind as I watched a doe and fawn cautiously and appropriately glide through the creek. Loving glances forward and backward, the mother assisted the baby to smoother waters, easier currents and stable footing, all important to getting across. As I ran on, my own memories, my own moments of doing this with my parents and now as a parent welled within. And a thread that binds it all together is this, the parent doesn’t lead without being led. The mother deer looking back to the fawn was to ensure it was following. Though, if not, the mother shifted course and footing, the fawn led her in the fawns, perhaps unknowingly, way. How often is this the case? I suspect if you were to pause a moment today, you’d come to a realization that you too have been led by a vulnerable person of some capacity and if you haven’t perhaps you should seek that out. In my never ceasing curiosity of how we impact one another in our communities, I think often, the right people are missing from the table, though, not just the table, more importantly the leadership position. Or those in leadership blip on the importance of leading from a posture of, with, rather than to and for. This mother deer could’ve easily dashed through the water, arrived at the other bank, and stared at the fawn while she cried for her mom. They could’ve cried back and in forth in hopes she’d figure it on her own. Though when tenderness kicks in(the posture we should always take in leading and life) the mother knows to safely do this, she has to be attentive and guided by the pace, direction, and path of the vulnerable fawn. Consider, who are you guiding and being guided by? Who are you receiving tenderness from and offering it too? There are many currents, stones, and soft landings and hard landings in our world, and to help, we have tenderness to guide and inform our next steps and hand in hand moments. Be tender. Be led. Be love. |
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