Hezekiah and the Geese

Going through a series on the Kings in 2 Chronicles has been really interesting. There is a really limited number of the kings that are talked about in positive terms - only four in fact. Hezekiah is one of them. He became King when he was twenty-five and ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. If one looks at the things he sets about doing while he ruled - repairing and opening the temple, calling the priests to purify themselves and to remove defilement from the temple - he learned from mistakes of those that have gone before. This is what it says of him: "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done." There are amazing lessons of leadership to learn from a character like Hezekiah.

It was brilliant to hear Jeremy speaking on this recently. He used an example for leadership and community from Charles Swindoll. Geese!!

Some facts about geese:

-When we see geese in the sky they fly in a V formation - As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follows. By flying in a V, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Sharing a common purpose, a shared direction within community is so valuable - working together, travelling on the thrust of one another is so much more effective for the Kingdom. Anyone who has seen Gospel community in action - people who are working together for the eternal - will know the amazing witness this can be to Jesus.

-When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

In community we are depending on one another's gifts, skills and talents. It is amazing to see how each of us excels at those things God has gifted us in and made us passionate for. Leading can be hard. I have been reminded of this recently when hearing from one of the legendary student leaders in Auckland. Student Leadership can be hard. It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. It is so important to depend on one another as we all depend on Christ in living for Him where he's placed us.

-The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

I love this one. Encouragement. We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. How vital it is that we are encouraging those who lead and those around us to keep going - to strive for the prize set before us.

There is nothing more exciting than leadership for Him within a unified purpose of community that is honking it's encouragement to keep going. Hezekiah knew this. He lead in such a way that he glorified God through his decisions, actions and interactions. The fact that we must talk of community when we talk of leadership speaks volumes though. How much we can learn from the supportive, effective, flying V formation of the geese!

One last thing that geese do: they fly south for the winter. And that's what this Wildgoose will be doing! I got a visa! Praise God! And it means that I can fly back to NZ at the end of the month. It is truly so exciting to think that I will be able to be a part again of what God is doing in that country, that ministry, His people. Can't wait to get stuck back into campus, to see Auckland whanau again and to serve alongside them in this work he has gifted us with.

The task now is to finish well, that I leave in such a way that I make the most of what he has given me here - take all the opportunities I can to speak of and live for Him here. It is exciting to see buds of this community, this flying V, appearing; to see people beginning to properly grapple for the first time with His Word, with who Jesus is. I pray that this will continue and grow - folk will be together, leading and honking, all to His glory!