Going First II: Open Wounds

Several months ago I posted some thoughts on leadership under the title Going First. Since then I have enjoyed a number of conversations on the topic of leadership and my daughter's idea of leadership being primarily about "going first." 

I continue to be fascinated with the way Jesus led people.  And more specifically how he led after the resurrection.  He seemed to lead with his wounds.  His willingness to show his wounds authenticated his leadership, and validated his follower's "followship."  Again I am struck by how backward that is, even within Christian circles.  I know two Christian leaders who fit this mode of leadership and I have to say, their "style" is not, in my opinion, fully appreciated by observers - but their people?  They love them and follow. 

Why...

Why would a resurrected body have open wounds?  If God can raise the dead  he can heal wounds.  Scars in the right place would have proven - "I'm Jesus." 
Why is it that I can feel changed, renewed, like a whole 'nother creation and yet so wounded? 
And why is it that this woundedness so often leads me to not lead and quite honestly to disqualify myself from following? 

What if its all a lie?  What if believers are to lead by going first.  By leading with our wounds...our open, gaping, bloody and unresolved wounds?  What if we stop pretending that following Jesus somehow means that all wounds are healed?  I wonder what might happen?  Is it is possible that people would follow someone with open wounds but a determined direction? 

My temptation is to validate my leadership not with my willingness to bear my open wounds but with my lack of blemish in the first place - maybe this is a good idea but it is NOT what Jesus did! 

One of my friends that leads like Jesus recently told me, "I am the right man for this job."  He was referring to his leadership position.  I asked him how he could be so sure...his answer caught me off guard, it stopped me short - he took my breath away when he said, "I am willing to bear all the pain necessary to see this through."  Whoa.  My friend is wounded - and he is leading. Frankly I'm amazed and afraid by this kind of leadership...but people are following him.   And God is working miracles in the wake of my friend going first.

Didymus

Comments

[Timothy]

Excellent post, Didymus. I completely agree and would say that this applies to our witness as well. While I wouldn't call mylsef a "leader" per se, I have had opportunities arise in my life where I debated whether or not to share my wounds, present or healed, with friends who were unbelievers. Rather than hide or supress them, I have often chosen to share them and I believe that through that I was seen as relateable. At those moments I was no longer viewed as someone completely different or pious, I was just a person sharing life struggles with a fellow life-struggler. This then opened the door to talking about solutions to these struggles and, at times, and eventual profession of faith. But if we continue to hide our wounds I believe we miss out on identifying with people where they are at and telling them they are not alone. While I wish I had made better choices along the way, I know that God is using my indiscretions to be able to relate to others in very specific ways. To this end, I will wear them like a badge.

Thank you for the words,

Timothy

[Didymus]

Timothy,

Good to hear from you again. I appreciate your comments very much.

I'm sure that leading with our wounds make us more "relateable" but I wonder if the big surprise is that it makes us - honest. Confession is just, well, telling the truth. And to do so fearlessly implies that we are relying on something(one) else for our validation and security. I believe it does frighten and then amaze and then draw in those who are invited to "stick their hands in our wounds."

Be His,
Didymus

[Timothy]

Didymus,

It is truly sad that honesty is held up as such a surprising virtue, even within Christian circles. I would say that this practice of bearing our wounds is not a commonly held practice and therefore frowned upon, as seen by the reactions your friends are getting. In my limited experience I have found this leadership style to be rare in our churches, both in the pulpit and out. Sure, we are all brutally honest about the state of the church, attendance, giving, growth, and all other things corporate, but we don't like to appropriate the same honesty to our personal life and struggles.

I guess the obvious question is why is this not seen within the organization that is supposed to stand our from the rest of society? What is so at stake? Have we completely bought into the corporate mindset that people only follow leaders that show no signs of weakness? What are we so afraid of?

The truth is we are all in this game of life together together, it's "Us Lions". Perhaps we should be inviting others into a community of fellow wounded people helping each other fight the good fight of the faith, humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God so that in due time HE (not us) will lift us up.

Your words are always encouraging,

Timothy

[Didymus]

Timothy,
Again, thank you. I'm not suggesting that preachers get up front and die in a pile right in the pulpit, but I think you are right - we are willing to be honest about the "state of things" but not the state of our heart. My experience is that when we are willing to go first - miracles happen.

Didymus