The Reader For Leaders Seminars, articles, and musings by Paul D. Casey

“Don’t let someone else create your world, for when they do, they will always create it too small.” –Edwin Louis Cole

We’ve all heard that we are in charge of our own destinies. While I believe God is the ultimate Controller of my destiny, I do believe I play a role in that life-plan. Putting the plan in the hands of another human usually limits the potential of what God can do through me because most people are short-sighted and tend to play it safe, lending negative vibes to dreams and opportunities. There comes a time when a man/woman must take the bulls by the horn and go for it, running through the open doors God swings wide.

“I’ve had a world of possibilities slip through my hands and prayers that went unanswered that I couldn’t understand. There’s a faith that can move mountains, but I never let it move me. I only trusted things that I could see. So much frustration and trying it alone. I’ve had the revelation I can’t make it on my own…I give You my all.” –All (Avalon)

Natural reaction to problems/situations/opportunities in this life: How can I handle it by myself? I don’t need anyone’s help. I’ll figure it out, and it’ll be great. But one quickly realizes that I can’t go it alone. Without the help of God, I miss out, I turn inwardly selfish and proud, I am underutilizing the greatest Force in the Universe at my disposal (so to speak), I have a limited perspective, I will run myself into the ground with failure. Other option, the countercultural one, since it doesn’t make any sense to the logical mind: Give my everything to the One Who made the owner’s manual of my life, and see what He can do with it. I guarantee my life will be piloted a whole lot better than if I keep clutching the wheel.

“We only think well when we are in touch with all the passions of our life.” 

“We need to get distance from the immediate problem and consider what we should do from the perspective of our entire life.”  –Sam Keene

To be a good personal decision-maker, clear thinking is needed in order to tap into the wisdom God has already given us. So, we have to escape the noise and back up from the current issue before us, in order to look at it from different angles. We have to evaluate it through the screen of how God wired us, what brings us most life, and what will yield best Kingdom-results for our future.

“One of the grand ironies of our faith is that we can come to know God more intimately by recklessly pursuing Him in the dark night of our pain.”  –C.S. Lewis

It’s usually a time to lose trust in God, to think He’s abandoned us–when we are going through deep painful circumstances. Maybe it’s also the irony of when I was spanked as a child by my dad: I wanted to run to his arms to reconnect to His love, even though he had just dished out painful discipline to me. It’s somehow knowing that He’s got it all ultimately designed to work out for our good, though I can’t explain it–I just know it enriches my faith each time I “recklessly” pursue Him and He comes through in His timing.

“Now, once I was downhearted. Disappointment was my closest friend. But then You came, and he soon departed.  And, you know, he never showed his face again. Your love has lifted me higher...” –Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher (Audio Adrenaline)

The remedy for being in a funk emotionally is to reflect on the blessings that God gives me–everything from His creation of me, to the sacrifice of His Son’s life for me, to ultimate/regular forgiveness/mercy, to the opportunities He gives me, and the people that enrich my life that He connects with me. No one can just will discouragement away; it has to be replaced with Hope.

Numbers 20:6 “…and threw themselves facedown on the ground. And they saw the glory of God.”

A prayer for today: “Father, when people or circumstances pummel me, the first Person I need to go to is You–in complete humility. Only then will you move my way with solutions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Numbers 20:12 God disciplines the leader Moses: “Because you didn’t trust Me, didn’t treat Me with holy reverence in front of the people of Israel, you two aren’t going to lead…”

“Lord, leaders truly must be above reproach, for they get a stricter judgment. I must keep my cool and keep taking the high road in my responses–trusting that You will be my Defense, my Rescue. I do my part; You do Yours. May I not disqualify myself to lead at any level. In You alone, Amen.”

Self-evaluation questions for loving God and people:

1. How soft is my heart?

2. How quiet is my soul?

3. How fervent is my strength?

4. How clear is my mind? 

“We need to acquire a heartful mind. This seems best done through the cultivated discipline of solitude, and the habit of recollection and auto-biographical thinking…going through the day with a quiet mind…. To make certain that he orders his time to conform to his hierarchy of values….Solitude begins when a man silences the competing voices…and listens to the dictates of his own heart…time…to discover my desires, my rhythms, my tastes, my gifts, my hopes, my wounds.”  –Sam Keene

Yes, solitude is so important and countercultural. Each of us has to make time to get in touch with him/herself, to quiet the self, and to be more self-aware. This time helps us stay true to our values and to order our lives accordingly–to discover everything about ourselves.  When life seemed the darkest, I went to beautiful places once per month for a day or two to sort life out. To pray. To read to understand. To rest my nerves. To heal. Probably THE most important soul-searching of my entire life! I try to practice the solitude habits of Departing Daily, Withdrawing Weekly/Monthly, and Adjourning Annually. I feel something unsettled within me when I don’t adhere to this new wellness habit.

“It’s a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand.” –Madeleine L’Engle

Just like tribulation reveals people’s character, it also reveals their faith. I don’t like that feeling of rocking back in a chair and then almost falling backwards, but then catching myself; the adrenaline shoots through my body, and I recover, on terra firma. Yea for gravity if used for one’s advantage.  Deeper than that, when off-balance due to a troubling life experience, only God is our Gravity, the only One Who will not let us down, Who knows exactly what needs to be done to ground us. Crises are crucibles that show what to rid our faith of, and what to anchor our faith in.

“When there’s no where else to turn, all your bridges have been burned. Feels like you’ve hit rock bottom. Don’t give up. It’s not the end. Open up your heart again. When you feel like no one understands where you are, someone loves you, even when you don’t think so. Don’t you know, you got me and Jesus, by your side, through the fight. You will never be alone.” –Me and Jesus (Stellar Kart)

I know what it feels like to hit an emotional rock bottom in a crisis. Confusion, shock, scarcity-thinking, hopelessness, pulling in–all are the feelings that flood the soul. I always knew I had Jesus, though. To know He gave it all for me (so He understood), that He hurt with me, that He never left my side, that He unconditionally kept loving me, that He fought for me, that the Father’s will is best for me–what a comfort when the rug gets pulled out. How could I turn anywhere else?

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Isn’t this leadership at its basest form? Anyone can follow. Anyone can respond. But leadership is visionary, it’s going-first, it’s sticking your neck out–for the benefit of those walking tentatively behind. I’m always grateful when I’m hiking a trail that has been blazed by someone who cared enough about bringing beauty to others that they sacrificed their time and energy to make it passable for me! So, the choice is ours: either we stay impacted by the culture, or we make the impact, and by doing so, make a difference in others’ quality of life.