A Book Review for Follow Me to Freedom

           John and Shane are two leaders who have been through many struggles, have devoted their lives to creating a better world, and have come from different backgrounds to share their lessons learned with us through a genuine, heart-felt conversation.  It is easy to hear their love and respect for each other as they discuss the blessings and struggles of leadership.  Their story shows another side of leadership: one beyond that of leadership within the school walls.  Their story shares the grit, tears, and realities of leadership within communities.  These communities have been through disasters, riots, and storms, but have also come together with prayer, love, and support to build something better.

            The vision that is carried throughout the book is looking toward Christ for our vision.  If we “align our particular vision with God’s Word” (loc. 836), we can feel secure that we are leading in accordance with His will.  Our vision also must come, not from arrogance, but from our “experience and woundedness” (loc. 1108).  If it comes from arrogance or pridefulness, Shane warns, “we cannot just be in love with the big vision; we have to love the people around us” (loc. 2609).  Through love for others and prayer for guidance, our vision will guide us closer to Him through our lives.

            As we lead, others are following us.  This book shows us that we must choose carefully who we follow and, again, ensure that they are looking toward Christ as the ultimate example.  Christ taught his disciples to “quietly make friends with people” (loc. 424).  If we become friends with our followers, stop seeking glory for our works and accomplishments, and instead promote God and his grace, others will want to join with us to get closer to Him. Shane uses Christ and his disciples as an excellent example for us.  The disciples were ordinary men. “He teaches the disciples to offer what little they have and promises that when we do that, there will be enough” (loc. 1289).   

            One of the greatest themes running through this book is how to be the leader Christ believes we can be.  “All it takes is the humility to recognize that we all have something to teach, and we all have something to learn” (loc. 1109).  If we remember that simple truth, then we can stay balanced between knowing that God has a plan for us and realizing that we are a small piece of an even bigger plan that encompasses so much more than our vision for ourselves. 

Resources:

Clairborne, S., & J. M. Perkins (2009) Follow Me To Freedom: Leading and Following as an Ordinary Radical. Ventura: Regal. Kindle edition.

Making choices and trying to become a leader...

Chapters 4-6 of our text, Follow Me to Freedom, made me reflect on choices and their impact on our lives.  Who we choose to follow, how we choose to lead, and who we choose to surround ourselves with are all a reflection of our beliefs and who we are.  Each decision we make says something specific to the world…

Who am I following, and why?  One of the people I follow is the preacher that baptized my dad and introduced my mom to the grace of God.  He speaks at our congregation every year for his “Three Unusual Days.”  My friends and colleagues hear a lot about what Earl says, and I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned from him.  Why do I follow him?  He readily admits that he’s a sinner that struggles daily to be more Christ-like.  He shares the message of God’s grace, love, and the awe that he feels about Him.  Earl reminds me to see the beauty in the simple truth of God’s love.  He also reminds me that I’m a sinner saved by Christ.  You see a balance of the realities of our humanity and the overwhelming simplicity of God’s perfect love.

How am I leading?  I hope to lead with a servant’s heart and by example.  Today, I put on a silver cape and mask to become “Reading Diva” for our book fair.  I know that it doesn’t compare to feeding the hungry or rebuilding neighborhoods, but I made kids giggle.  They got excited about books…  They saw my love for reading….  And then one of my teachers volunteered to do it tomorrow while I’m gone.  My reality is that I know I can’t make everyone happy all the time, but my goal is to make sure that we are doing the best job we can at my school to teach kids and turn them on to the joy of learning.