Uncertainty is a given in our age of rapid change, data tsunamis, and new ways of thinking. One might think that asking for clarity would be an easy thing to do. It should be. However, Life has multiple ways of reminding me of the futility of my quest to do it myself. In my life, uncertainty is a given. However, how I respond is never a certainty.
Two-year old behavior is my go-to response to anything new. I want to do it on my own and on the first attempt! Anything short of that feels like I have failed. Yet, the flexibility of digital means that everything comes with layers of complexity. Even simple things require a period of learning, experimentation, and practice. I find it natural to adjust the light setting with my mobile phone camera, yet many are not aware of this feature. Others use features I am not aware of. Unless we talk and exchange our insights, growth is not a likely result.
Egos, especially male, say we are all knowing beings who lead from the front. Uncertainty, asking questions, seeking to understand is secondary to the position of giving instruction. The idea that leadership is about visions, community, and trust seems foreign. In discovering the power of questions, I found a path to trust. It is powerful, experiential, and a foundation for more.
Asking for help often creates a feeling of vulnerability. At a young age, I was taught to protect myself. Vulnerability was, through my young eyes, a weakness to be avoided at all costs. Time revealed a different truth. Intentional vulnerability is the ultimate statement of power and leadership. It is in laying out my views, priorities, and ultimately my heart, that I express my willingness to share the strength Divinity created within each human being.
As I look forward to the day, I find myself embracing wisdom words. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.” (James 1.5).
