Take Me to Your Leader

At one point in my life I was in a deep conversation about leaders and the difference between a good one and one you plot to mutiny against. It was then that my friend defined something that had stuck with me. He said, "A leader is truly great when you are following them without realizing it."
The idea is comforting and horrifying all at the same time. If you are molding your life after those who've made honest decisions than the idea of being lead without knowing is a happy thought. Your leader is taking you down paths of happiness. But what if you're following a leader who doesn't have your best interests in mind. And you have no way of stopping the downhill process because you are in such a hurry to follow that you can't see the rope that's tied to you!

Hmm, the best way to describe this is with a Star Wars metaphor.

Anakin Skywalker starts out in life as we all do - with loads and loads of potential. He's then swept up by the good guys and put on a track to help out the entire universe. Does that happen? Nope! Sweet little Anakin turns into a whiny teenager and starts listening to Chancellor Palpatine and gets completely taken over by the dark side before he even notices. Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader and the Chancellor reveals himself as Emperor Palpatine (the wrinkly guy in movies 4,5,6)

Are some of us dark side bound? I think so, but we don't realize we're on the trip until we've reached our destination. Is this why Christ said we're like sheep? Sheep are so easily led by anyone and anything. I don't like to think that I'm a sheep, but as long as I keep looking up to see the leader of the pack it should keep me on the right track.

Take some time today to look at who is your shepherd. It's never too late to grab your light-saber and follow someone else.