Don’t worry about the mule, just load the wagon!!

In these days and times it seems to me that there is no shortage of people who aspire to be in charge. There are many, many chiefs and very little Indians, at least by my count. No one wants to do the actual “work” anymore. Everyone wants their input into the project, goal, system, activity, assignment, business, game plan, scheme, task, and venture, but almost no one wants to make the rubber meet the road. We all complain about the education of our youth but not many show up and get involved in the school board meetings or to even pay attention to where the district spends your hard earned tax dollars. We will tell you what’s wrong though. It is because we envision ourselves as being in charge; just don’t ask me to actually do something.

Everyone wants to GO to the church and critique the pastor, deacons, and the very few people that make the organism that is the church move forward. Did you get that…THE VERY FEW PEOPLE, I said. People show up on Sunday and walk around inspecting with the swagger of a person who actually “works” in a ministry and gives their precious time more than one day a week. Do you give to your church body or do you only take away from it on Sunday morning? Everybody wants to worry about the mule, yet very few want to load the wagon. Everyone is an integral part when the heavy lifting is done, but few are around to actually do the lifting.

It seems to me that the nation probably could have had a president that was not of exclusive European heritage if enough people had previously been concerned with loading the wagon, but that had never happened. At least in our community it never happened. President Obama’s campaign seemed to galvanize the people into loading the wagon, if for only a brief moment in time. It made me think about what else can be done if we all didn’t worry so much about the mule? Our children suffer because black men are not only out of the house but are being pushed out of the house. That’s right, I said it. Too many black women are not willing to load the wagon. You chose the mule, not let him lead the wagon or do a better job at picking the next mule you hitch your wagon to. Black men are not the total blame and some of us are getting tired of being EVERYONES scapegoat. Get your stuff together and the good black man will seek you out!!!

Are there too many maybes in your life for there to be a for sure? Stop trying to be in charge of everything without putting in the time it takes to know how to take charge. You have to follow first. Following will lead you to responsible leadership. Then and only then will you be responsible enough to lead the mule. Until this happens…..load the wagon, stop worrying about the damn mule. Stop trying to Chief before you Indian. Stop trying to lead others to the Promised Land and you have no map or navigational skills to get there. Until you participate you have no moral compass to critique the happenings at the church. You just might be the person who is meant to drive the foulness out of the congregation, but first you have to be engaged in the happenings and ministries instead of just offering your commentary(gossip).

With so many people trying to direct the mule no one is checking to see if there is even anything in the wagon to pull…A Damn Shame if you ask me.