Leading by Following

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” I Corinthians11:1

I am a dance instructor: been officially teaching dance for about ten years now. I spend most of my time working on curriculum and class objectives for the classes that I teach.  I am also a dance choreographer. I listen and coordinate movement to music in hopes of creating a tapestry of movement that will touch the heart.  Although I have choreographed to secular music, my heartbeat is worship. Many, probably most, of the pieces that I have done over the years are with Christian songs. I really enjoy teaching and choreographing and love to see the impact that it makes on the lives of others

The only problem with teaching and choreographing all the time is that I am always on the other side of learning. It is not often that I get a chance to follow someone else’s dance steps. And when I am privileged to do so it’s a challenge to my brain. I have to consciously come out of teacher mode, wanting to instruct and adjust, and make a conscious effort to follow.

Yesterday I had the rare occasion of learning someone else’s choreography.  My new friend, Michelle, is working on an African American program, for which, I had agreed to dance with her for the finale dance piece. Because of the nature of the program the dance style was, of course, African, or at least greatly influenced by it. I knew then that it was going to be a challenge, but I was up to it. My dance background is Ballet, Ballet, a little Modern and Jazz, and Ballet (lol). Asking me to do African style dancing is like asking Barbara Streisand to do a Mary J. Blige song, or vice versa.  They could probably pull it off because of their level of skill, but the distinction of their different styles would definitely stand out. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I could not dance an African style: I have danced many styles over the years. My concern was what I would look like dancing it (picturing myself, shaking my head and laughing).  

Michelle confessed early on that she was not the greatest instructor (I soon found that to be untrue). She quickly explained the scenario of the dance and started taking me through the dance movements. I was doing my best to imitate what she demonstrated while at the same time trying to find the rhythm and count of the music. I stumbled over movements for about the first twenty minutes, but soon found my flow. I was able to learn the dance in one night. Praise God!  

Being at that rehearsal yesterday, having to follow and learn the new dance moves,  got me thinking about my role as leader, and follower, for that matter. The whole time that I was learning the dance I was thinking to myself “I need to do this more often”….follow, that is.

When you’re leading all the time, sometimes you can forget what it’s like to have to follow. Yesterday’s rehearsal made me, once again, reevaluate my leadership abilities. It made me think of the dancers I oversee at my church and whether I was demonstrating Godly leadership before them. It put me in remembrance of the word and reminded me that I needed to walk even more in the Fruit of the Spirit(Galatians 5:22-23): I need to be more patient, kind, understanding, and gentle, not only with them, but with my family as well.  It reminded me that if I would just trust the instruction of my leaders that eventually I would produce a beautiful tapestry of life and movement. And finally, it reminded me that to be a good leader you have to be a great follower.

Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is a great leader. He is the good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd”every morning: “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalms 86:15). As followers of Christ we can be assured that if we put our trust in Him and are obedient to His word that our lives will be a beautiful tapestry before Him and man. The songwriter puts it best: (John 10:11). He leads us with patience, kindness and gentleness. He is longsuffering and extends new mercies to us

Trust and Obey, For there is no other way

To be happy in Jesus, But to Trust and Obey

My prayer today is that I would be a good leader in whatever capacity the Father places me in, but more than that, a good follower. I want to lead with integrity and love and follow with humility and obedience. I want to honor God as well as the Godly men and women He has placed as a spiritual covering for my life:  Pastor Jerry and Chris McQuay, Pastors Steve and Shae Wasmundt, and my husband, Albert P. Caldwell. 

May my life, and yours, be an example of Him today.

My Love Song to HIM! Dorothy C.