Do you recall my lament for the people I saw as being sheep without a shepherd? Do you think this situation has changed, or that I feel any different about it now? How many people do you see that are sheep without a shepherd? Don’t mistake this as a matter of deciding who is a sheep and who is not, for I still have other sheep who are not of this fold, and them also must I bring. I made this lament even though I was a shepherd myself. I have commissioned you to follow me, and given you the authority that requires, so you too are a shepherd.

Are you a leader? Do you think you need a title and an office to be one? There are so many situations crying out for someone to take the initiative and provide direction. You don’t have the authority to usurp power from established leaders, but there are more opportunities for leadership than there are designated officeholders to fill them. You can step into a vacuum without challenging anyone in power. Haven’t you seen this already, and been willing to follow someone who emerges with a plan and direction? You can be the one. Assume the authority you need to do what has to be done.  

Do you think of redemption as a transition from this world to the next? There is an element of truth to that. What about redemption here in this world? A demonstration of that may be a more compelling argument for the validity of the gospel than a promise of a better life in a world to come. If someone’s conscience is awakened, and they turn from their selfish and inconsiderate ways to express love and compassion, doesn’t it signify a real inner transformation? How often do you see this happen apart from a spiritual experience?

Have you ever heard of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps? You know that this is physically impossible but it is still a common phrase. You meet people who claim to be self-made. Yet they cannot really take all the credit for their success. They have advantages and privileges that they are not acknowledging. Everyone who succeeds has someone who gave them a start, got them an education, and gave them character instruction. No one exists apart from a human community. What do you have that you did not receive? Acknowledging this will allow you to bear your success with humility.