I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.

Spring came early at our house and I look forward to the summer. The animals and birds have given me such fine company and my peonies are ready to bloom. I pray that the life of this spring and summer may ever lie fair in my memory. Welcome to the June newsletter.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

As children, I remember playing follow the leader. It’s a silly game; sillier than most children games. First a leader or "head of the line" is chosen. Then the children all line up behind the leader. The leader then moves around and all the children have to mimic the leader's actions. Any players who mess up or do not do what the leader does are out of the game. The last person standing other than the leader is now the new leader. If the leader was mean or had a real nasty sense of humor, the followers would be in trouble staying in the game.

But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.
Matthew 19:30

Every step of life can be a game of follow the leader if we give in to weak temptations or mindless peer pressure. Many people usually do. It’s okay, but pick your leaders wisely.

Think of how bullies in grade school rule by size alone. They lead by brute strength alone and most often are dumb as toast. My apology’s to toast. They get weaker kids to do things against their better judgment often scarring kids for life.

Teens join gangs because similar mindless bullies have gathered a group of weak minded kids by the same brute force and any other kids trying to mind their own business are sucked into the gang as if they happened by a black hole in space. They are initiated by doing some dumb stunt like stealing or worse. Today’s gangs allow members in, only after they murder someone. They do it or else try living while running and hiding from the gang until they are hunted down and slaughtered.

Once in the safety of the gang, they do drugs; not because they like it but they can’t take the chance on being an outcast. They have chosen to follow some lame “dude” with a third grade education instead of reaching for loftier goals and living the dreams of younger days they gave up in fear.

Lives are wasted daily because our young live in fear of the unknown. If they had stood up to the first bully as a child, they may have been beat up a little but they may also have won the fight. Bullies are weak minded souls that have some muscle and size but think that they can beat others into submission and they confuse fear with control. They rarely make it as world leaders and if they do, still use bully tactics they learned as young children; they surround themselves with like persons and rule by intimidation and fear.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4

I know I’m over simplifying the problems of bullies, gangs and kids living like pack animals but the problems are real and the solution is simple. Teach your children well when it comes to playing follow the leader. Teach them how to pick the right leader because the choices they make in life, dictate the course of their life.

I was lucky as a young child because I was always big for my age and immune to bullies, but I saw it all around me. I felt for the weak. When I was old enough to be confirmed in the church, my pastor was aware of the bullying kids go through and he taught us to pick our leaders well. Jesus and His Apostles are the only leaders worth following.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35

I don’t think that children are playing the “Follow the Leader” game we played anymore simply because it isn’t on a computer screen and it’s not violent enough. However, even adults are given a choice of leaders to follow and weak leaders lead by force; the greatest Leader ever led by love. The choice we make as adults will still dictate the course of our life. The choice is easier than we think but we are often blinded by fear.

Follow the only leader worth following; Jesus.