In Two Places At Once

[Written for leaders, but useful for everyone.]

Dallas left the session with so much drive and enthusiasm. Not only did she help her client, Allison, take the next steps towards self-sufficiency, she also helped her feel like a new woman. For years, Allison could not shake the negative emotions of feeling worthless. But after really embracing the sessions and bearing her soul, she was ready to take on the anything.

Joyfully returning home, Dallas soon remembers that she needs a pep talk herself. Life recently took a turn and she realizes she needs help. Fortunately, she knows just who to call. Piper! Dallas connects with Piper and the process begins. The journey could have been long and arduous, but recognizing the need for someone other than herself made the journey a more pleasant one.

As leaders, we spend so much time looking to invest into others that we sometimes forget something — we need help ourselves. We are always two people at once — those in need of rescuing and rescuers. Let’s not forget that. God uses us to rescue others, but we need rescuing ourselves.

Typically, we walk around thinking we are here to help others. This is definitely true, but we often forget that we need to be helped. It is pretty obvious when we think about it. We would never know how to do most things if we were not first shown by someone. Yet, sometimes, we can be so arrogant that we think we can achieve almost anything ourselves. How foolish.

We fail daily. We succeed daily. We are never always failing, and we do not constantly succeed. We have landed huge deals at work, but come home and have spoken rudely to our families. We intentionally cut people off in traffic, and sometimes financially bless the impoverished. We help, but we also need help. We need each other.

In every biography, we find that someone needed someone. No one has “made it” on their own. He needed her and she needed him. He needed him and she needed her. Even Jesus needed help! He would not have been crucified without enemies and would not have succeeded without God’s strength. I think you get my drift.

So, whether we are ministering to a friend or being ministered to by a friend, let us remember those two places in which we always exist. We have so much to contribute, yet we are not beyond receiving contributions.

As we are out sharing meals with coworkers, greeting the cashier as we arrive to checkout, connecting with old friends and making new ones, let’s embrace who we are. We are forgiven, yet need to forgive. We support others, yet we also need to be supported. We provide comfort, yet we need to be comforted.

Until next time…