I didn’t realize it at the time, but I used to apologize for my very existence. Really! I did! Maybe without realizing it, you do, too.
The first time I clearly remember openly expressing regret for my imperfect existence I had my first featured role in a play. I was a freshman in high school and was very excited to be playing “Agnes Nolan” in the musical, George M!, about the iconic American songwriter, George M. Cohan. (Even if you don’t know his name, you probably know a few of his songs like You’re a Grand Old Flag.) I even had a solo! But, as often happens among young thespians, I was sick the weekend of the play because of not getting enough rest leading up to the performances. I was disappointed knowing that I would not sing as well as I could and, as a true newbie in theatrical endeavors, I had not yet learned to put myself aside and project the character regardless of what happened. So, whenever I sang I made an apologetic gesture to the audience to indicate that I knew what they knew, I wasn’t singing my best. I didn’t realize at the time that I wasn’t really apologizing for my performance. I was apologizing for existing as an imperfect human being. I downplayed anything that was good because I couldn’t see past what wasn’t. It was my pride that needed to declare, “This isn’t my best! Maybe if it was my best I would have a right to be here.”
So, what does that have to do with being a leader? The title of this little post refers to even you being a leader. When I make some kind of regretful acknowledgment for being an imperfect human being I immediately devalue myself. I can apologize for mistakes without devaluing myself. That isn’t what I was doing in this case, or many others. I wasn’t simply acknowledging an imperfection. I was declaring to every person sitting in a theatre seat how I saw myself. I basically was saying, “I am not perfect or performing perfectly. Therefore, I have no right to exist. I am so sorry for taking up this space in your world.” Do you think that sounds extreme? The truth is that people do it all the time. Does it sound familiar to you?
You offer a suggestion that might help someone and then you immediately try to talk them out of doing it. You don’t say anything because you don’t feel like anyone will listen to you. You take on a leadership role and then are constantly explaining why someone else could do it better. You speak up and then you backtrack. You devalue any good that you are doing. You cover up your light. Do you?
Let your light shine! By not accepting the best that I could do at that particular moment I covered up any light that was shining through me. What I have learned since my high school days is that whenever I do the best I can, it brings God glory, even with all the imperfections. When I take what I have to give and offer it to God, He touches it and lets His light shine through it. When I downplay any good that I have done I am actually covering up God’s light shining through me. I don’t want to do that anymore! I know that all I have comes from Him. Anything I can do is because He has given me the ability. I want to let that light shine!
Let others see the good that you do. Listen, God is not surprised by your imperfections. They are part of you. But there are just as many good things in you. God put them there for a reason. He wants to let His light shine through you! Your imperfections don’t diminish that light. They are like the facets of a prism. They multiply the fact that it is God shining through you. Accept what is good about you. God made you that way and wants to show Himself through you. So, let others see His goodness in you. Humility does not put self down. Humility focuses on others rather than self. When you and I accept our strengths as well as our weaknesses and use those strengths to serve others and point others to Jesus, we bring Him glory. We let His light shine!
Let your light point to Jesus. When you focus your life on loving others in Christ’s name rather than apologizing for the ways you fail or don’t measure up, you let them see Jesus in you. Let His light shine through you and don’t worry about your imperfections. I have been learning to do that over a long period of time.
I don’t always do it well, but I know who I am without Him. I would be sitting in the back of the church and slipping out without anyone noticing me instead of sitting in the front row as a pastor. It’s true! I am who I am because of Christ in me. I want that to be clear to everyone I touch.
You may not think of yourself as a leader, Dear Friend. But how you think about yourself does not change the fact that you are. God’s light shines through you! It really does. And the purpose of that light is to direct people away from you and point them to Jesus. In order for that light to have its best effect you need to accept that you are leading someone one and be intentional with that responsibility.
Your job is to let your light shine. When you do that you are leading someone to the goodness that is God. It’s not about who your light shines on. It’s about Who your light shines for. It shines for God first, but because you let Him shine through you, without apologizing and covering up imperfections, He will use your light to point others to Him. You ARE a leader. Lead others to Him!
Key thought: You are leading someone! Let your light shine!
A Scripture to consider: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIV
A YES Challenge: Make a list of all the people you come in contact with regularly. How might God use the light in you to point them to Himself?
Prayer: Father, I will admit that it is hard to think of myself as a leader. Everything in me fights against it. It is much easier for me to follow than to lead. Help me to remember that I am leading others by my example. Help me to be more conscious of letting my light shine so that it points others to You. Amen.
