Leader, Straggler or Learner

 

 

 

Women at the Windows

Alan Osterlind

(1855-1938)

 

 

"To walk behind means that I need to follow.  It means I can share new ideas, give hope, and open my heart.  If I walk behind, it means that I can look ahead and see the faces of my sisters looking back at me.  I can see them smiling and laughing with great joy.  I can imagine that one day it will be my face that is looking back, giving hope to someone who is walking behind."

 

FIND YOUR WAY HOMEby the Women of Magdalene

with Becca Stevens

 

 

There are many walks in life.  In some we may be the leader, the one lagging behind, or the one learning in the middle.  The sign of a good leader is that he or she brings the people around with him or her.  When we set example and teach others, we all prosper. 

 

Not in a group, but as an individual, we can slide into any one of these positions of leader, straggler, or learner in between.  When we are present with others, we may switch our place numerous times, rotating through conversations.  The amazing thing, is that we often times do not even realize the role we are playing.

 

In discussion, we may make a comment that has been settled within us for years.  Those around us react as learners as they have not heard this wisdom before and thus, we become  the leader.  There are other times we are the ones falling back, perhaps caught in a different mood or frame of thought.  We claim space at the back to travel at our own pace.  When we are physically, emotionally or spiritually injured, we can enjoy the place in the middle.  For whatever reason, we need support before we take flight once again.  We are encouraged by those who travel before us.

 

Neither one of these places (leader, straggler or learner) is an inferior or superior position.  We can benefit greatly in each stage.  We must remain flexible and willing to learn from each other.