Trusting Leadership

There is nothing that brings the Hulk rage out in me more than one of my kids asking me why they have to do something. Now, I am not talking about why we put gas in the car, but things like why we have to brush our teeth. The problem is that most of the time this question is not posed in a delightful and loving way. It is posed with a deep disdain for what they are doing. It doesn’t matter whether it is my two-year-old or my six-year-old, this question comes across in a challenging manner for me. I want to look them in the eye and tell them because I know what is best.

           

It is funny how this happens between parents and kids, yet eventually kids see the wisdom of their parents. This was one of the funniest parts of watching high school kids go to college and come back. They had a new perspective on their parents’ leadership in their lives. Sure, there are certain situations where parents are not guiding their kids in good ways, but often that leads to less complaining by the kids and quicker results with their issues. This does not only happen in the parent and kid relationship, but in every aspect of leadership. They say leadership is lonely because so often as a leader you are making decisions that others don’t understand. And most often like parents, you are making decisions based upon what is best for the group as a whole.

I love the scene from Bruce Almighty where Bruce gets to be God and answer all the prayer requests. He firsts starts by answering them all yes. Conflicts arise when everybody starts winning the lottery and their other desires are granted. This is exactly why Paul would spend time writing a passage like Romans 13:1-10. Our world is quick to question leadership. He knew as humans we are constantly like my kids asking why. Sometimes the why is cleared up, but there remains struggles with the leadership. As Christians we trust that God has put those people in place, and while we know they are sinners and will make mistakes, we trust God has ultimate power. There will still be days and issues where we will want to shake people with that Hulk rage, including our leadership, but we get to set the example to trust God and the leadership.