Wednesday afternoon I was out for a run when I found myself going through a tunnel on a local running path. All of a sudden two women riding on a golf cart came flying into the tunnel. They were talking faster than they were driving which was scary. Realizing they were not paying attention, I tried to hug the wall of the culvert. The ladies slammed on their brakes just before they plastered me. Thankfully it was dark and I’m pretty sure they couldn’t see that I was starting to cry.
The woman driving looked toward me and said, “I’m so sorry, I couldn’t see you in the shadows.”
It is never a good idea for a runner to be in the shadows. The same can be said for a leader.
Leaders who live in the shadows will eventually shipwreck their influence. Yet so many leaders have a propensity to try and hide.
Whether you are a Bible reader or not you will recall the Creation story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When sin entered the world, the Bible tells us that Adam was trying to hide from God. In Genesis 3:9 Scripture reads, “The LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’”
Let’s be clear. God was not asking the question because he could not find Adam. He knew exactly where Adam was. God cannot be beaten at hide-n-seek.
He asked the question because He wanted to give Adam a chance to come clean. A chance to“come out of the shadows.”
So where are you?
Are there areas in your life where you are living in the shadows? Been keeping secrets from your spouse? Hiding something from your kids? Holding back on your team? Skimming financially? Taking short cuts physically?
If so, you are headed for a collision. Why not make the decision to come back into the light and pursue a life of integrity? Why not make the decision to stay out of the shadows.
i2i,
Randy
What areas are the most tempting for leaders to “live in the shadows?”
repost from 6.10.11
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