Let my love open the door

I love this clip from Dan in Real Life. This Pete Townsend song has been stuck in my head all week, and actually, not even the real version. I've got the Steve Carell version stuck in my head. As I watched this clip, my brain started turning.

How often in ministry do we give people a chance to lead, to let their message be heard, and then halfway through, we assume we can do better and take over? Maybe they forget the words or panic at the thought of leading, or maybe they just aren't as seasoned as others. As a "favor" to them, we quickly jump in with the "right words," trying to "save their efforts."

When does support become take over? And when is that okay?

I never want my leaders to feel like they aren't supported. I want to be their "back-up singer" in the case of the video, making their presentation that much better doing whatever they need me to. I want to give them a chance to shine and learn and grow in their leading abilities. At the same time, this means letting go.

In Dan in Real Life, Steve Carell finds himself falling in love with his brother Mitch's [Dane Cook] girlfriend. So in this moment where Mitch is trying to send a message to the woman he loves, Dan takes over and the original message loses its meaning.

A lot of jobs I applied for before ending up in CC wouldn't give me the time of day without experience. That's what I love about our leadership- they give you a chance, they help you grow, they let you sing your song. I hope that I can do that for others- give them a place to try things out, support them in their efforts, and help them shine.