Creating Community

There is an implied danger in expectation: that they will not be met. It’s even less that they won’t be met as much as it is the reasons they’re not met are often not known.

Is it that hopes are let down in mismatched expectations? Who’s hopes of who’s expectations?

Is it a fear of the repercussions? What does this mean for yourself?

Discouragement? Defeat? Disappointment?

I recently helped plan a Haiti benefit event. Before the event started, a friend of mine and I were praying and he referred to the event as our “small offerings.” In my head, I laughed an almost “Small, this is going to be HUGE.”

Then the event happened, and it wasn’t huge. It wasn’t the 200 I was expecting. Nobody had to scream to speak over the crowds. Nobody had to excuse themselves as they weaved and bobbed around a standing room only hors d’oeuvres table. Disappointment set in.

Why am I disappointed? Did He ever say he’d meet my expectations? On what grounds can I say that He didn’t show up in a huge way?

In one month’s time, our small community stepped up to serve. My local community became the hands and feet. We saw the effects of His presence in our short time collaborating with local businesses. We. Had. Fun.

We left a sheen and the parade has barely begun. Who know’s what He’s up to next…

ps – for the record I’m having a difficult time listening to my own heart and hearing what is bubbling. My heart is on the mend and somewhere in there is block between my fingers and my heart. The none-too-coherent-all-about-me post reflects that. I’m trying to push through the dip of my mending heart.

At Catalyst, Chuck Swindoll was speaking on different points of leadership that he has learned through his years of following as best he knew how. One of the final points echoed that leadership is lonely. Lonely in that you, dear leader, are out on your own. You’re pushing boundaries, you’re moving walls that have yet to be moved. You’re walking on seemingly uncharted territory for yourself and for your tribe.

Loneliness offers little to ears to listen. Leadership lends itself to advice giving, but not so often to receiving. It takes a strong leader to turn to His ears when you need someone to listen.

My leadership could use some definition, but I am failing in finding ears to listen. My “go-to” listeners are still there, but as I am searching for ways to lead in my own way, to define my leadership, I am finding less ears to listen. Maybe stressing the few pairs I have.

A wiser person than me would know that He is trying to listen to me, if only I’d speak to him. He’s asking me to help ease the loneliness He feels as my leader, but I am not doing so hot at responding.