Leadership Training

I just read an update letter sent from a good friend. She's in the Colorado Rockies for the entire summer at a program called Leadership Training. She is on staff with a college ministry, and is one of the leaders leading Leadership Training. Basically, LT is a +/- 12 week internship that +/- 200 college students (and ministry staff) from around the nation attend because they want to learn (and lead others in) how to be effective in the kingdom of God, and how to be effective in the lives of others. I really enjoyed reading her letter, and it reminded me of my LT experience, and what I've learned from it.

I went to an LT in 2004. It was in Orlando at the time. And I was 22. On my way to Florida, I remember thinking "I am not a leader right now. I am going to be trained to be a leader. At the end of this summer, I will know how to be a good leader!" It sounded like a good idea. But it was the wrong idea. I expected sessions on "How to come up with good ideas that people will follow", and "How to problem solve", and "How to be a good Christian Leader".

Imagine my surprise when the first speaker said something to the effect of "I don't really have this being-Christian thing figured out. All I can tell you is it is a process." I didn't get what I expected to get from that summer. I got a lot of headaches and issues, and a lot of other stuff that came to the surface. There were some good times and good friends made too, though.

But that's LT for you. I think of it more as Life Training. Because really, life is about the decisions we make and living with the results. The effect of LT is to help young people learn how to be whole and live well. You become more of someone who is devoted to the Lord and to loving people, and who makes good decisions in line with the will of God, and who helps others do that too. LT is a pressure cooker that brings a lot of issues to the surface, so they can be dealt with in a healthy way. When you are whole and healthy, you are more able to do what is right. That type of person has more influence on others who also want to be that way. That person also knows how (and why) to choose to be less self absorbed. A leader is not the chief of the clan or the alpha of the pack. It is a person who is able to share wisdom learned from experience. Someone who is willing to step up and do what others are afraid/embarrassed/ignorant/unwilling to do. Leaders still make mistakes, but they know how to learn and grow from them. These are some of the things I learned from LT.

But opportunity is the true test. Leaders became leaders because they learned how to make the right choices and were blessed. LT teaches you how to interpret life, others, yourself. Its okay if it brings out the worst in you as long as that leads to bringing out the best in you. Its a season you won't ever forget because of the life lessons you go through. I know I am still learning from them every time I remember that summer 6 years ago. I know I am also living more in reality today than I was the first day of LT. I know I'm better off, and am more whole, and am more in God's will than ever. I went to LT because I wanted to be a leader in a group, to be respected, and to get to make decisions. It was still a long time after that before I could be anything close to real leadership material. And right now, I'm not a recognized "leader" of anything, but I'm still a leader. Not even because I want to be. I am because I love the Lord, and He has given me love for people. I've had a lot of chances to make mistakes, learn from them, and learn how to make good decisions. I still mess up, and still don't have it figured out. But it's a process.

What have you learned from LT?