By Rev. Janet Stobie
“We need someone to chair this committee, please.”
All eyes turn to the floor. Silence echoes around the room.
Many members are thinking, Not me. Not me.
A number of years ago, I wrote a children’s book titled“ Elizabeth Gets Her Wings.” Elizabeth, a young angel, wanted her wings immediately, before God’s appointed time. She decided the best way to get her wish was to get on the good side of God. She volunteered for every task God ordered.
“Pick me! Pick me!” she shouted.
Wise and loving God had a task that fit Elizabeth’s gifts of determination and persistence. God chose Elizabeth to find volunteers.
Most of us in the church family are not at all like Elizabeth. We all want to be on God’s good side, but our default position when a task arises is, “No, not me. I’m too busy. I already have too much on my plate.” Or “Oh no, I couldn’t do that. I’m not good enough.” Or “No, I’ve never done that. I don’t know how.” Or “I don’t like to be criticized. There are so many critical people in this group.” We seem sure from the start that we will be all alone in the task, with no help from God or from anyone else.
Shifting our position to “yes” takes courage, determination and trust. In the ancient scripture story, God asked Moses to lead the Israelite people to freedom from slavery in Egypt. Moses started out with, “Oh no, I couldn’t do that. I don’t know how to talk well. My brother, Aaron, can do this job for you.” After much assurance from God, Moses relented and said yes.
As a team, God and Moses led the people to freedom. That doesn’t mean it was easy. There were lots of difficulties. Like Elizabeth, Moses needed God’s help.
I wonder if filling positions of leadership would be easier if we started every challenge taking stock of God’s gifts given to each person in the group. We could then work on matching the position with the person with the right gifts. I wonder if saying yes to leadership would be easier if we knew and felt God’s presence. If we thought about God choosing us for a particular task at a particular time. Maybe if we remembered that we would be on a team with God, it would be easier for us to recognize an opportunity and to step forward?
In Embers, his book of Devotions, well-known Canadian writer, Richard Wagamese, talks about working with God as a team. Richard speaks of God’s assurance, “Of course, I’ll help. You pull and I’ll push. I’ll always be there, but there’s one catch. You have to pull first.”
First, we have to say yes. We have to have the faith and the courage to say yes. We have to pull first. God cannot help us until we agree to do the task. It took me fourteen years to say “yes” to God’s call to ministry. I remember finally saying to God at the time. “OK, my children are grown, but don’t you ever forget that this was your idea, not mine.” The thirty-five years since my ordination have been wonderful. I love playing on God’s team. God has been there every step of the way. Yes, there have been difficult times, but I am never alone.
When you speak to anyone who has said yes to working with God in a leadership position, they will say the same. Of course, it’s work. It takes time, but I’m not alone.
Leadership is so important. We need leaders. Finding volunteers is always difficult. Finding leaders can feel totally impossible, especially since Covid. We fear commitment. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Jesus said, “Don’t hide your gifts. Use them. Use them for God’s glory.” Maybe that’s a second important thing to remember when we’re asked to take a leadership position. It’s God’s glory, not our own, that we are seeking.
For more reflections, www.janetstobie.com