Brad Morris: Insights to living: I am their leader
By Dr. Brad Morris
Several years ago I took a group from my church on a missions trip to Long Island, Bahamas, to build a church building. In preparation for that trip we had several meetings with the team to make plans.
In the last meeting before we were to leave, they presented me with a cap as their leader. It was like a baseball cap. I say like, because it wasn't made exactly like one. It had two bills instead of one.
One was cantered off to the right at about a 45 degree angle from front-center and the other was cantered off to the left at about a 45 degree angle from front-center.
On the cap itself, were written these words: "I am their leader... which way did they go?" It was a nice joke.
The story above came to mind because of a recent experience.
Not long ago, I conducted a funeral. After the service, at the church I was standing next to my car waiting for the time to head out.
The funeral director, Tim McKenzie, came up and was talking to me. Normally there is a car from the funeral home in front of the minister's car but this time there was not.
My car was the lead car. I asked Tim who was leading the procession and he answered me, "You are" as he turned to walk over and talk to the deputy sheriff who would lead us out of town.
I grabbed him by the arm and said something like, "Whoa, wait a minute, if I am leading then you better tell me how to get to the cemetery." He looked at me and smiled as he asked, "You don't know where this cemetery is?" I told him, "No," as I had never been to it before. Not only was it a long way, but it was out of Georgetown County.
He told me not to worry, that the county deputy would escort us to the county line and a deputy from the next county would be meeting us there to escort us the rest of the way. I was a little relieved.
He gave me detailed directions and as he finished I asked him about the next to the last turn, how far was it down that road before the next turn in the next county. He told me, "Oh maybe three, or four, maybe five miles. Don't worry. There'll be the church's sign there saying the church is down that road and just turn there."
I weakly smiled, not liking this at all. I mean I would be leading 50 to 75 or more cars down a road. I was their leader.
They were trusting in me and I hadn't the faintest idea where we were going for sure.
Then I asked him, "Well after we get to that road where the church sign is and I turn down it, how far down that road is the church?" Again he gave me a confident smile as he told me, "I'm not sure exactly, it's three or four maybe five miles or so down the road."
I guess he could tell I wasn't too sure about all of this, so he added, "I'll tell the hearse driver to pull out before the last turn into the other lane and flash his lights at you, so you'll know when to turn."
The pallbearers car was between the hearse and me. OK, we had a plan and a back-up plan.
Then why did I still have misgivings about the whole thing?
The first part of the trip was uneventful. Georgetown County's finest performed flawlessly.
When we arrived at the county line and he stopped and stepped out of his car to honor the deceased, I looked and there was no other deputy from the other county to meet us. It was up to me. I had that sinking feeling one gets when you realize you're really close to disaster. I checked my cell phone to call Tim, but realized we were so far in the country there was no signal. No help there.
But I was their leader! Onward! I found that first turn fine, and we headed down the road, watching my odometer ... one mile, two miles, three ... still nothing, four miles and some tenths.
Wait was that the hearse flashing his lights? I couldn't tell. All the cars had their emergency flashing lights on. Their headlights were all on, the road was bumpy and everybody looked like their headlights were flashing!
I could see, me their leader, leading 100 cars (notice how the trouble grows as you become more unsure of yourself?) down a small narrow country road to where it dead-ended and all of us trying to turn around and go back to a missed turn.
These images were flashing through my mind as I passed a very small sign about the size of a house for sale sign beside the road. I couldn't read it because of the glare of the sun. So as I whizzed by I craned my head around to look and read the reverse side of the sign... that was the road! I hit the brakes and then had to ease up to keep the pallbearers' car from careening into me.
We finally stopped our two cars.
The hearse driver knew where he was going so he stopped ahead of the road and left us room to back up and make the turn.
Or maybe he just stopped to see how bad the wreck was going to be!
Thankfully, no one else in the procession saw what was going on up front (I think), with this by now, crazy pastor. We all made the turn and headed down the road.
Yes, I am their leader and they are following me, and I have no idea where I am or where I'm going, but they are following!
We passed a small church. I slowed up, didn't see any other vehicles or a cemetery and so I eased on by looking all the time to see if the hearse driver was following ... he was. On down the road we went.
This time there was a huge sign, but the church was way back off the road, hard to see at first until you passed the tree line beside the road going down to it, but I found it.
Everyone arrived. We didn't lose anyone, and best of all, I didn't lead them to a dead end with a u-turn in store for everyone in the procession.
I don't think I've ever been happier to finally get to a cemetery in my life than I was that day.
So what is the moral of this story?
If you're going to lead, you sure better know where you're going, because if you don't, not only will you be lost but so will everyone who is following you. AND they're NOT going to be happy.
Parents, your children are watching you for leadership. Even if you don't know that, they are following closely behind in your footsteps. You sure need to know where you are leading them, for if you don't they'll end up lost in life just like you. Don't just tell them which road of life to take, lead them.
You'll be happy you did and so will they.
Hey Tim, are you reading this?
"I am their leader," is not always a fun thing, but it is exciting. Trust me, I know.
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Dr. C. Bradley Morris is pastor of First Assembly of God in Georgetown. His e-mail is: PastorBrad@sccc.tv