The Distinction Between "Lead" and "Leader"

Quote From:  The Polar Express 

Hero Girl: It says "lead." Like "lead balloon." 

Conductor: I believe it also is pronounced "lead." As in "leader," "leadership." "Lead the way." Follow you anywhere, ma'am.

I want to make the distinction obvious between the fact that I chose the word "Lead" and did not choose the word "Leader" as my One Word for 2013.   I am not in the process of learning how to work my way into a position of leadership.  That does not appeal to me.  What I am learning is how to lead those who "follow" me.  Those who are watching me or my family.  How we do life.  Those I am mentoring or discipling or teaching.  Those who come along for a brief moment in time and ask for insight, prayer, acceptance and/or discernment or those who join us for the long haul in this thing called life.

Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes.  A majority of the time... it just happens.  Often there is no structure or exact moment.  Recently while doing the study Anonymous:  Jesus' hidden years and yours, I came across something that seemed to fit what I am focusing on... submission-based authority.  The leadership or authority that most of us are familiar with is based either on position or possession.  Position-based authority can look like the name pastor or doctor or general or teacher or director.  Possession-based authority looks like, "It's my ball, so I get to make the rules."  But submission-based authority looks like "the submitted heart, mind, and spirit of Jesus." 

Jesus' authority flowed not from possessions or positions but from submission.  What was the surprising source of Jesus' authority?  Submission to his Father's will and Word.

Throughout the temptation [of Christ], Jesus reaffirmed with every "It is written"  the same decision he had been making quietly in the unapplauded places over uncelebrated years during his previous thirty hidden chapters of life:   I will live in submission to my Father's will and Word.

Over the years, Jesus' consistent choice to submit to his Father God's will and Word clustered and built momentum as he stepped out of his anonymous season and into the waters of the Jordan River.  There, the Holy Spirit descended not on talent, title, or wordly possesions but upon the submitted heart, mind, and spirit of Jesus.  ~Alicia Britt Chole, Anonymous:  Jesus' hidden years... and yours.

This is truly my focus. 
With or without position. 
With or without possession. 
Whether I lead or follow.  
Submitting to my Heavenly Father's will and Word. 

He must become greater; I must become less.  John 3:30 NIV84