Throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, we follow, follow, follow.
Follow the Leader
Did you ever play Follow the Leader when you were a kid? One was chosen to be the leader, and the rest lined up behind. Followers had to copy all the actions and movements of the leader—running when the leader ran, doing jumping jacks, taking 3 steps forward… Anyone who didn’t copy a movement was out.
Why do we play that game? To develop the ability to trust. Trust binds the leader to followers and is the foundation for credibility, respect, and fairness in our workplaces. We are all called to be leaders and followers in some way or another.
We watch our dogs play follow the leader, especially when a new member is added to our pack. The new dog follows, mimicking the veteran until he or she learns both the rules and the territory. Then the dogs leverage strengths. Although Freya was smarter, Heathcliff had the better nose, so she followed him when they went adventuring. Now the veteran, Cato shows Mac the lay of the land.
I Will Follow You
It was April 1963 when I heard Little Peggy March sing, “I love you, I love you, I love you, and where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow…” Here’s the link to her performance on Perry Como’s show. She was fifteen when she sang her number one hit that spring; I would be twelve by the end of the summer.
Who did I follow romantically at that age? The Beatles. I was going to marry Paul, along with many other teenage girls, an infatuation soon replaced by other teen idols and eventually by guys I’d actually met. When I met and married my first husband, I followed him to Texas. And when I married Keith, I followed him to the mountains and to church.
I Will Follow Jesus
It took me a long time and many missteps to become of follower of Jesus, let alone to understand the cost. Here’s the story recorded in Luke 9:57-62 (NIV) and Matthew 8:18-22 (NIV)
To follow Jesus, I must be willing to leave behind my comfort, give up earthly security and distractions, seek wisdom (God’s, not man’s), and listen to the Spirit.
Like a child, I must follow the Leader, singing: “I love You, I love You, I love You, and where You go I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow.” But it is the adult who senses the depth of that commitment, that trust, and the leadership I am called to, using my God-given strengths, my spiritual gifts.
Link up with Five Minute Friday: https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/03/23/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-follow/
C.D., I just love this post! In so many ways! I’m going to remember this song (which I love) every time I think of following Jesus! And I’ll think of you when I hear Peggy March’s version. God’s blessings!
Thank you, Karla! Singing along with our sisters in Christ.
It’s my blessing! 🎶🎶🎶
I remember making the distinction of being a “follower of Jesus” when so many in my world claimed to be “Christian” without any semblance of following Christ. I was only 15 at the time. That accountability to following Christ has been an adventurous life as well as abundant (not talking money here).
Ah, Gary, you were and are blessed to have followed early in your life. But, as with the parable of the vineyard workers, anytime is good. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
We just acquired a new pack member, Buster, a red hound mix with the skinniest tail I’ve ever seen.
I’ll bet when Christ first saw me,
He put on face a frown,
because right then He had to see
that He’d have to chase me down.
And so it went down through the years,
that long Divine pursuit,
well-oiled by way too many beers,
and detours to the cute
lassies that I’d sniff around
each and every day
like a happy loose-limbed hound,
but they’d shoo me away,
and then one day I turned to find
ol’ Jesus standing right behind.
Love this, Andrew! Thanks!! -C.D.