Words reveal intent. Actions reveal heart.
I worked up that phrase a few years back, and it’s something I return to regularly to both wrestle with it’s validity and to check my heart in the process.
You see, I think we say things we want to do. We want to eat better, exercise more, be a better friend, and be more dependable. All of those are things we intend to do.
But at the end of the day, after that third serving of supper, our actions reveal things about us we may not be ready or willing to accept.
The same is true in developing leaders around us. We know we should do a better job. We say we should do a better job. But, when push comes to shove, our actions reveal something different.
This summer for student ministry is unlike anything we have ever experienced. I know so many ministries who are having to completely audible what would have been and move in a different direction.
But I have one plea. Don’t let leadership development get pushed to the side.
Developing leaders is not an easy task. I love what we’ve been able to do each summer at camp with our Horizon Leadership Camp, but in the absence of camp, I am going to spend brain energy deciding how to work leadership development into what I’m doing.
After all, I can say developing student leaders is important. But if I’m not taking steps to help students grow, do my actions line up with my intent?
Dream a little today about what leadership development could look like this summer. Put some thought into it, and then do it. You can do this!