Guest Contributor: Tyler “GT” Goatley. Omega Group Member. Graduate. Newly minted high school math instructor and cross-country and track & field coach.
“Hang around long enough and you may find yourself in charge.”
– Tyler “GT” Goatley
With a freshly printed graduate degree in hand I scoot off for my 12th consecutive year leading at my favorite summer running camp. Yessir! I love to run. I love to camp. I love to lead and serve. I love to connect with the next generation of runners.
First camp dates to seventh grade. I remember it well. 108-degree heat. Living in a tent 40 feet from an active train track (night…night). That is living, and that year ranks #1 as a camp memory. I return, year after year. Funny. Did I ever think about camp organization? No. Did I every ponder who is in charge? Nope. Who makes it all happen? Negative. But times do change.
Hang around long enough and you may find yourself in charge. This summer call me the assistant camp director. Soon the current camp director will step down. Will I receive the leadership torch? I am not certain. That said, as a camp veteran, I see clearly daily operations pushing on current leadership, requiring a leadership response. Will the response be proactive or reactive? Calculated, deliberate, initiative-taking or fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants response?
Relocating to a new campsite brings leadership challenges. Larger rented facilities mean more ground to cover. More runners. More food. What is the plan? New variables catch us off guard. Collectively, we stumble. We react. We are unorganized. We are stressed. We create and desperately fill holes. Yes, the designated camp director owns the management reaction, but we all share in the solutions…or lack thereof. In the midst strategizing, I stop to ponder a spiritual application.
Spiritually, in the way I management my life, am I more proactive or reactive? Do I adequately prepare myself in advance to engage my soul and those around me? Prepare…like engaging spiritual disciplines (prayer, reading, serving, etc.) Or do I simply “wing it,” engaging myself and others in my own strength at a later point in time? How about you?
Let me look at a big spiritual pressure point. Seems our spiritual and life opposition, the Enemy, delights, if that is a fair word, in attacking us. If true, and I suggest it is, then will you and I prepare (proactive) for these encounters? Or will we simply roll in our strength, putting ourselves in reactive positions? In Ephesians 6:10-20, the Apostle Paul directs us – those that are His – to put on (proactively) the full armor of God. Spicing it up a bit, he clearly states we fight not with “flesh” and “blood,” but with mystical spiritual entities. Ouch!
As a young man, I know that when temptation and deceit arrive at my doorstep, I must proactively respond with a known plan. If I hesitate, I snare myself. Not good.
I end with encouragement to read and understand our deepest needs and the Source that fills them. Read the verses below. Meditate on them (quietly reflect), asking the Spirit for help with a proactive plan for our lives. We are not alone.
I am “game” for year 13 should the opportunity arise. I start with myself and with the overflow bless those around me with proactive leadership and genuine care.
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:10-20
GT – Don’t be fooled. He is working on his proactive strategies.