Transformed people…

Today I'm sitting outside on the deck reading Adam’s Return by Richard Rohr.  The following paragraph stuck out today:
 
“Lifestyle and relatedness is more important than words, or as Francis of Assisi is supposed to have said, ‘Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.’  We may reach out through media and technology or through our written or spoken message, but we finally transform and initiate each other through who we are.  Transformed people tend to transform people.  In fact, we tend to be able to lead people only as far as we ourselves have gone.”
 
This part got me thinking and asking some questions of myself.  We transform people through who we are.  Who am I today that is transforming those around me? What do I bring to the table in this area?  Something in this thought brings peace.  Perhaps it’s because it’s really not about performance or what I do, but who I am.  I've never been in a place where I feel so free to become who I am.  But the places I desire to lead people into requires courage. Courage to go there myself and then share the journey with them.  A willingness to embrace vulnerability and share with others what I’m learning, what I’m walking through, my struggles, my victories.  This makes me think of past teams I’ve lead and where I’ve seen them grow.  This reminds me once again of the importance of leaders  and how we can't thrive without them.
 
It also makes me think of these 9 Real Life leaders that are on various airplanes as I write this.  Tonight I will get to see them at Atlanta International Airport, and for the next 2 days I'll get to spend time with them celebrating all that God has done.  They’re heading home after spending 4 months of discipleship and ministry with their teams of college-aged students in Kenya, Uganda, Thailand, Cambodia, India, and Nicaragua.  These leaders have spent everything they have on these students.  They are exhausted yet completely fulfilled.  Their stories of victories, trials, freedom, fun, and adventure are ones that only God could create.  To say I’m proud of them is a vast understatement. 
 
These leaders have done just what Rohr is talking about here….they’ve transformed their teams through who they are.  So well done to these rockstar leaders:  Janna Williams, Melina Orengo, Chris Cave, Mike Sanders, Lindsey Eaton, Natalie Smith, Andrea Pasquan, Hope Mendola, and Alisa Prox. 

“Transformed people tend to transform people.”  What a life I have that I get to see this lived out every day!