Unexpected Influence
A few months ago I started to get restless. I felt like I had leadership in me that wasn't being maximized. Part of it had to do with being a mom of a toddler. So much of my energy was going towards sitting on the floor and playing with blocks. It was a stark contrast to speaking at conferences and seeing hundreds of students make life-changing decisions. I found myself asking God if there were other ways he wanted me to be leading in this season. Maybe I should say yes to more speaking or coaching opportunities. I wasn't sure. I was just open.
I had no idea that I'd be influencing people today through more suffering. So many people have told me the impact that our story and our writing has had on them. I sat in the front row of the church for Julia's memorial and asked my brother-in-law if he thought anyone would come. Ten minutes later I turned around to find people from Junior High, college, post-college, and every season of life. I was overwhelmed by how many people showed up for us.
I've been thinking about how much influence our Julia had on us all. She only lived a year and a half and yet our lives are changed forever. At the graveside service, Pastor Natalie reminded us that Julia is amongst the saints. She referred to Julia as "Julia the Great" and told us that influence is not measured by time or by accomplishments in the way we often think.
It's for this reason that I love coaching InterVarsity interns. I've seen them influence more people in a year than a lot of people with seminary degrees and a lifetime of leadership experience. More importantly, their investment in their inner lives with Jesus during that intern year can lay a foundation for a life of integrity. That is what will set their leadership apart.
To summarize, here are a few leadership lessons:
If you want to influence people, follow Jesus in every-day life. Don't worry about finding a platform.
What's inside of you will come out in the darkest moments of life. Suffering exposes your leadership.
Experience and achievements are not an indicator of your ability to influence.
"Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs...." And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” - Mark 10:14, 38