Follow the Leader

Last week, I had the privilege of joining 3,000 other Catholic leaders from around the country for a national convocation in Orlando. While there was a plethora of topics and speakers, my biggest takeaway was that I’m a terrible participant. I might know something about leadership, but I have a hard time following. It was difficult, dare I say unnatural, for me to sit, listen, and digest. If I wasn’t thinking of the savvy point I could make, I caught myself instinctively critiquing the experience. By the end of two days, I was exhausted by the discipline of keeping my mind and heart open, by allowing myself to be led. The experience made me grateful for the gift of followership – those disciples whose trust is so deep in the Lord, that it overflows into those they encounter and exemplifies that “tangible witness.” Among the many blessings that came from being a part of that historic event was the important reminder that in this sacred line of work, you can’t lead if you don’t follow.