When I was in high school, every one of my classmates were made to run a mile in gym—including me. I, who had terrible asthma, could barely run a lap around the football field, and even had a doctors note—still had to get out there and try. 

During this time, I used to wonder why we all had to run. It was obvious some of us were athletes and others of us were definitely not (hello, doctor’s note!). Wouldn’t it make more sense for some of us to run, some of us to walk, and still others of us, to read a book? Because that last one was definitely what my mostly introverted self would have enjoyed more. 

Only the point of running the mile was not to break an olympic record. Our grades weren’t even about who came in first. If they were, I would have fallen far off that grading scale. Rather, the point for us was to exercise, build up perseverance, and use the bodies God gave us in one of the ways they were intended to be used—to move. 

In gym class, we were all runners. No matter how fast or slow. No matter who came in first. But my high school attitude about running was one I am finding we as people have toward a lot of things in our world.

If we can’t paint like Van Gogh, we’re not an artist. If we can’t sing like Adele, we’re not going to sing in public, let alone try out for the Voice. If we don’t look like the latest fashion model, we’re not beautiful. And if we can’t run a marathon, we believe we shouldn’t even run. 

No matter how silly these sound, we all have similar thoughts about something in our lives. Only the thoughts that I think many of us share, are the ones we have about Leadership. Because most of us don’t have an important title or big fancy office, we make the mistake of believing we’re not leaders. Worse, we believe we don’t have a role to play in the greater discussion that is defining leadership in our world right now—when currently, we have an opportunity unlike any before. 

Believing that leadership looks like being a politician or CEO, takes most of us out the running. Combine this with the many failures of our leaders being brought to light in very public forums, and these roles seem daunting. Leadership has gotten a bad name. Yet it has only been tarnished because we’ve defined it so narrowly, and at times, have ourselves been responsible for putting these people up on their thrones and pedestals. 

When instead, leadership is more like running around the track. Sure, some of us will run faster. Yes, there will be those of us who take breaks and walk. But all of us have the ability to make our way around the football field for at least four laps. No matter our speed or strength, we all have the ability to move. And in the same way, we all have the ability to lead. 

Though leadership looks different for each of us, it is still something we need to do. Whether starting by leading ourselves to be healthier people, encouraging our friends to make good decisions, or being positive influencers in our home—it’s still leadership. Seeing a need in our community and bringing even one other person along to fix it, is leadership. And initiating growth or change in your job, even when you’re not the boss, is leadership. 

It doesn’t take watching the news or surfing the internet very long, to see that we have a crisis of leadership in our culture. People in high positions are making grave decisions with terrible consequences. But the answer, is not for us to shrug our shoulders and say, “That’s leadership for you.” Nor is it for us to find shinier new people to take those roles. Rather, it is for us to begin leading and making needed change, even on a seemingly small scale, right where we are.  

Sitting on the sidelines and getting angry about how our most well known leaders are running their race, isn’t going to make a difference in our world. But stepping out on the track, beginning to lead where we are meant to, will. 

Do you know that you are a leader?

Where are you leading in your life?

And where are you supposed to?

 

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