stretched til it hurts

Sometimes leadership really stinks. No matter what realm it's in - be it parenting, work, church or other community setting (say t-ball coach, for instance! - our poor coach has been through the wringer already and we haven't played our first game yet!) - sometimes there are things about being a leader that are really stretching. (And by the way, everyone is a leader in some realm). It seems like I am forever encountering situations which I really don't feel like dealing with - they push me beyond my comfort zone, frustrate me, inconvenience me, and sometimes I end up getting hurt. Nothing brings out my flaws or my selfish nature more than such times. "So why bother?" one might ask (and that 'one' is sometimes me!!). I've been thinking about this question today and here were my thoughts.

It's really a matter of wanting to live life to the fullest. As a leader I can shirk away from responsibilities, and frankly, as a human being in general I can just avoid things that are unpleasant in any way. However, I will be missing out on the benefits and not getting the most out of the life God's given me. While it helps others when I do the right thing, I am learning that really, it helps me, probably more than anyone. It's like eating healthy and exercising (and believe me, I'm no health nut); you can choose not to - you could eat only junk and never push your body to get stronger - which may seem like the easy thing in the moment, but in the long run the results of that philosophy aren't pretty. When you are leading there are plenty of nasty things you have to swallow (I would liken this to eating fish, for example - not something I enjoy, but it's good for me...) and there are lots of ways you get stretched til it hurts (like a really good workout). In the moment..bad. In the long run...good. I will be a better wife, mom, teacher, leader, friend. More importantly, I can learn to be comfortable and at peace with who I am. Most importantly I will become more Christ-like. And that, my friends, is the ultimate goal anyway.

So whoever or wherever you are leading today...be encouraged. Press in to the discipline you don't feel like being consistent with; press in to the reconciliation you don't feel like making; press in to the encouragement you don't feel like giving. Because it's not only for the other person, it's for you too. You will be healthier, stronger, more at peace for doing the hard thing. It's a fact.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ~1 Timothy 4:8