There is a scripture verse in Exodus chapter 4 verse 2 where God stops Moses in his tracks and asks him, "What do you have in your hand?" Moses replied, "a staff." Sometimes we get distracted from our goal and what we have accomplished and begin to be sidetracked by what we do not have or who is missing from our team. This can be a dangerous place for a leader to dwell. In this state, negativity and frustration begins to set in. Sometimes we begin to devalue the team members that we do have in search for those we still need to find.
God began to show Moses that what he had was more than a shepherd's staff. It was an instrument that God could use to bring about a divine plan. That piece of wood went on to be used help Moses in leading over a million people on a journey that changed the history of the world. Moses looked at where he was and his state; God reminded him of where he was going and the tools he had to get him there.
I too find myself being diverted from my mission, vision and purpose. I want more than I have right now and I never seem to have all the people or resources to get to my goal quickly. In fact, I have a good team right now and we are moving at a pace that keeps the team together without loosing their minds and their commitment. I do not know why, at times, I want to get ahead of God's plan, why I get impatient with my progress or why I expect more from people than they are ready to give at any one time. Yet I do. I need to be reminded I have a staff in my hand and that is what I need for the journey at this time.
That staff went on to help Moses recruit a powerful leadership team, negotiate the release of an entire nation, amass resources to fund their entire journey, develop and train one of the mightiest armies the world has ever known, and create a civilization that influenced many others and provided the basis of all modern laws.
One of the most pressing jobs of a leader is to take the time to develop a team to help the organization accomplish its mission and vision. This takes time and sometimes it starts out slowly. Patience can be a leader's friend. Taking you time is not the same as laziness.
