When I was in elementary school, I thought of my leaders (teachers, pastors, babysitters, etc.) as the big people who were the smartest and could punish me if I didn’t listen to them. Authority was somewhat intimidating to me, and if even was shot a stern look, I would almost be in tears. But when I got to junior high, most authority figures started looking stupider and stupider to my adolescent eyes.
I think that my opinion of leadership changed when I got to high school and started being put in leadership positions and realized the heart behind the leadership at my church and school. It reminds me of when I was put into a position where I had to learn how to be a sound tech in a band. I had assumed it would be simple, and that sound techs really don’t have to do anything except push a few buttons, but once I actually had to fill the role myself I realized that it is probably the hardest job of the band. The same thing goes for leadership – I always assumed that leaders are just people who love being in charge of things and enjoy bossing people around. But once I experienced being in leadership on a month long mission trip a few summers ago I realized that leadership can be an extremely lonely place to be.
Ever since that experience, I have developed so much respect for leaders, whether I agree with them or not, because I know that they really do have the hardest job of the team.
When I was younger I had no idea how much leaders sacrifice or how much they do to serve others. Now that I have had a chance to grow up a bit and experience more of life, I look back on the things I said or thought about my leaders as a kid and I see how wrong I was about them. I now have so much more respect for people who choose to step up into leadership positions even when it means not taking the easy route.
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