Often I do not even realize I am being taught a lesson until later in life when I look back and remember a moment, a gentle word or deed, a study, or a story, that gives me that “Aha moment” when I remember. Oh that was what Joe, Fred or Ted was trying to tell me years ago. And it is then the truth comes to life after the teacher has gone on to receive his reward. Then I remember, “Oh, that was you Lord working through old Joe or Fred trying to teach me, but I was not able to see it at the time. I was too busy trying to build my tower to heaven, and a name for myself. I was so busy I didn’t catch the simple message you were trying to get across to me at that time.
I didn’t realize Lord; you had placed Joe in my path to get me through a season in my life, or a struggle I was going through. I was just too busy building my own little kingdom.
Leadership is a lonely path, and the true leader knows he must spend long hours on his knees, and in the word, realizing every thing he does is for Christ’s kingdom and not for his own glory. The true leader walks through life being consistent day after day, not worrying about who gets the credit, the accolades or the pat on the back. Leadership is tough.
Too often the leader who is truly doing kingdom work and teaching the greatest lessons, never receive credit for what they have accomplished. And to pour salt on the wound, they often have to sit back in midst of the crowd while someone else dashes across the stages of stardom to receive the crown for his work, his idea, suggestion or course of action. Yes, leadership is a hard road.
A Man May Do an Immense Deal of Good, If He Does Not Care Who Gets the Credit.
The man who penned that quote was probably never known, and certainly did not receive the credit, or reward for his work. In reality, that is the way it should be. Only our heavenly Father is the one who should receive the glory. And the true leader will be wise to understand and accept that fact.
Ronald Regan used that well-known quote and I myself have used it many times, giving Regan the credit as the one responsible for this masterpiece. But it was used long before Regan. In fact, Harry Truman used the same quote, but he was not the author.
Long before Truman, many other writers and statesman had used this quote, and the truth is no one is sure of where the quote actually came from. It has been revised, twisted and shaped and quoted in various ways, but always with the same idea.
However, neither Regan nor Truman made this quote. In 1863 a Jesuit Priest, by the name of Father Strickland used it, but it is unsure whether or not he was actually the author. He was the first noted to have made the statement. But even if he was the author he was not around long enough to receive the glory for these words. Others throughout history have been recorded using this quote, but to man’s best knowledge, no one knows who really penned it. Benjamin Jowett, William Arnold, Charles Montague and Everett Hale were all known to use the same quote before Regan or Truman.
It is not the intent to discover who first said these words, it could have been Paul or Peter for that matter, but the truth is that no one knows who gets the credit. And it is the same with the lonely road of leadership. “A man may do an immense amount of work if he doesn’t care who gets the credit. If we could just see and know the heart of Christ when He tells us as leaders how important the work is that He has called us to do, instead of trying so hard not to be overlooked in getting the credit for the job we have done.
Dock Caton 08/31/12
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