SHEPHERDS USE THE RIGHT TOOLS
Psalm
23:4 Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your
rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The Shepherd of old used a Rod and
Staff to shepherd the flock. The Rod was used to discipline, inspect and direct
individual sheep or the entire flock. The Staff was topped with a hook. It was
used to catch a stray or pull others out of danger. Both the Rod and Staff were
used by the Shepherd to steady his own walk as he guided the flock over rough
terrain. Today, we could use a Compass and a Fence to simulate our role as
Shepherds. The Compass like the Rod is used to point the flock in the proper
direction. The Compass allows the shepherd to know whether they are on course.
The Fence, likewise, provides the boundaries within which the individual sheep
and flock are to operate. They are kept together as a group within the
guidelines set down by the Shepherd. A good shepherd will bring the strays back
within the Fence. Both the Compass and Fence are tools for the shepherd to remain
diligent himself in achieving his goals and steadies his decisions as he leads
the flock.
The Compass and the Fence enable the
shepherd to allow the individuals to make decisions and take steps themselves
within these two parameters. When leaders do not allow the followers to make
their decisions within the parameters, problems develop. Followers will never
grow and develop in appropriate ways. Their own decision making muscles will
weaken or waste away. Generally, the people closest to the action will have the
most information to bring to the decision. What does this style of leadership
look like? Sometimes it looks like doing nothing. One otherwise impressive
leader sometimes seemed lazy or inattentive.
He would allow things to fall on the ground and make a mess. It was his way of forcing others to step up.
Guide them to see the necessary data and information and helping them frame the
precise question to be answered in a decision can be crucial.…Build the fences
and wait…This will require the patience, faith and wisdom of a great shepherd
leader.
Shepherd Leadership: Wisdom for Leaders From
Psalm 23 by Blaine McCormick
& David Davenport, pgs.67-69.