Aspiring to Leadership
Something
special happened on Saturday, 5 July 2014 in San Paulo, Brazil. The small, seemingly insignificant country Nederland
beat Costa Rica in the quarter finals of the world cup soccer championships. What makes this interesting is the human
nature story within the game. At the end
of regulation, the teams had played to a 0-0 tie, so a shoot-out of 5 tries
from each team was required to determine the tie-breaker. Each try in a shoot-out involves placing the
ball 11 meters from the goal; a player on one team tries to kick a goal against
the goalie of the other team. The
back-up goalie for Nederland, Jasper Cillessen, was substituted into the game
to defend the goal during the shoot-out.
That is virtually never done in professional soccer. As back-up goalie, Cillessen should have been
rusty since he had not been playing in the world cup games. But, upon deflecting the last 2 shots by
Costa Rica, Cillessen became the hero of the game propelling Nederland, in a 4
to 3 shoot-out win, to the Semi-Finals against Argentina.
Cillessen is
a large man. He had carefully studied
the tapes of the Costa Rica players to determine their kicking tendencies during
shoot-outs and he told each Costa Rica player while he was setting up to kick
that he knew where he was going to kick it.
I call that trash talking and intimidation, and when you do it, you
better be ready to back it up with action.
At the same time, Costa Rica had only studied Nederland’s regular
goalie’s tendencies; they did not know much about the back-up goalie. Cillessen prepared, studied and was ready to
play even though he was a “back up”; not a high profile or highly visible
player.
On 1
January 2007, WAC Champions Boise State University (Boise) played the Big 12
Champions Oklahoma Sooners (OU) in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale,
Arizona in what is now called one of the greatest Division 1, college football
bowl games ever played. Boise lead 28-10
in the 3rd Quarter. But, OU
began its come back with a series of scores.
With 1:02 left in regulation play, OU intercepted a pass from Boise
quarterback, Jared Zabransky, and scored the go-ahead touchdown with the score
35-28 OU; its first lead of the game.
With 18 seconds left Boise was facing a 4th down with 18
yards to go for a 1st down from OU’s 42 yard line, Boise ran the
hook and ladder (pass and lateral), scored and tied the game, forcing overtime.
In
overtime, both teams have the opportunity to score in 4 plays from 25 yards
out. OU scored first and kicked the
point after thus leading 42-35. Now
Boise had to score in its turn. Again on
4th down, they put the quarterback in motion in a trick play while
the running back took the snap and passed to the wide receiver for the score. Then Boise called time out while the coaches
with the starting quarterback and the back-up quarterback discussed strategy.
Instead of
kicking the extra-point to tie the game and send it into a second overtime, Boise risked
defeat to go for the two-point conversion to win. Boise ran the Statue of Liberty play with
three receivers lined up on the right side.
The quarterback faked a pass with his right hand and handed off with his
left hand to a running back who ran to the left side untouched into the end
zone for the conversion making the final score 43-42 Boise.
I tell
these 2 stories to emphasis the importance of everyone on the team doing their
best and being prepared regardless of their assignment on the team. Jasper Cillessen never played in the world
cup tournament, yet he was on the team and he did his job as a back-up goalie
to stay fit, prepared and productive.
During the time-out in the Boise/OU game, who do you suppose drew-up the
Statue of Liberty play? It was not the
coach. It was the back-up quarterback,
Taylor Tharp. You know the guy who never
plays and wears a baseball cap and carries a clipboard on the sidelines during
the game. But, he performed his roll,
was fit, ready to play and kept his head in the game. Jasper Cillessen’s and Taylor Tharp’s efforts
made all the difference in the world.
There are
many missionaries who aspire to leadership positions in the mission. These individuals somehow see themselves in competition
with each other for positions. Having
ambition and work ethic to rise to the top is a good thing in life and is
admirable. However, in the church this
attribute should be bridled. I know a
man who felt so inspired he would be called into a Stake Presidency that he
left his family and came home from a vacation in Hawaii to attend stake
conference. At conference weekend, he was shocked and disappointed. As a foot note, he did receive that call
years later which, I suppose, validated his inspiration.
Alma
escaped from King Noah and led his followers to a land of pure water. Alma was their high priest and, “…none
received authority to preach or to teach except it were by him [Alma] from
God.” (Mos. 23:17) This is consistent
with my experience in the church. Many
people are worthy and talented and would do a wonderful job in a given
position. But, as the decision is
distilled by fasting, prayer and pondering, the final selection is made
followed by the unmistakable confirmation by the Spirit. So the call is made by the ecclesiastical
leader but it comes from the Lord. And,
as time goes by the circumstances usually become clear that the one called and
the ones not called are perfect for the time and place and for the people
involved where they serve.
There is
no ladder to climb in the church. We are
taught, “…I the Lord will judge all men according to their works, according to
the desire of their hearts.” (DC 137:9) Essentially, God says He will consider
the thought equivalent to the deed for those of you who desire to do more in
the kingdom but who may not receive the opportunity.
I like to
think of Gideon. His life appears to be
equivalent to the back-up goalie or back-up quarterback. There is no mention of him serving in church
leadership. He was a strong man, an
enemy to King Noah and swore that he would slay the king. (Mos. 19:4) He must have had some military authority
because he sent men into the wilderness to search for King Noah. (Mos.
19:18) He counseled with King Limhi not
to lay the disappearance of the Lamanite daughters at the feet of the people
but on the priests of King Noah. (Mos. 20:17)
He proposed a plan for the people of Limhi to escape from the
Lamanites. Gideon apparently became a
teacher in the church (probably in the Sunday school) and contended with
Nehor. He withstood Nehor’s arguments
but not the ensuing altercation. He was slain by the sword of Nehor. (Alma 1:7-9) This man was not high profile but he was, “…a
righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people. (Alma
1:13) For his contribution, he had a valley
and a city named after him.
So, my
counsel is to bloom where you are planted, lift where you stand, do the work
and be diligent and productive in your current assignment. Here, as in the church at home, people are
routinely called and released as particular needs are addressed. You serve here not to be leaders, but:
6 … the thing which will be of the most
worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people,
that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with
them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen. (DC 15:6)
President
Robinson
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