Today we welcomed one of our team’s mentors. His name is Paul, and he is extremely well versed in almost every area. He is a leadership coach, as well as a business professor and an engineer. We had the blessing of sitting in on a lecture this morning. The thing that stuck out to me the most was his perspective on irritations. At the beginning of his lecture, he had us write down things that other people did to irritate us this past week. Then following that, we wrote down things that we did ourselves that frustrated us. He began to explain that our irritations with other people always teach us something about ourselves. He gave us a few moments to pray about what the Lord wanted to teach us in this moment. The Lord had showed me how everything I was irritated with in other people were all the things I am growing in with the Lord. I was irritated that other people weren’t growing along side of me.

As soon as I realized this, I remembered something my mom had taught me growing up. She told me to picture a mountain, and me going up it. Then she told me to picture other people with me on that mountain. Some people will stay with you climbing, but most will fall behind. But, I cannot look back, I must keep climbing.

Yesterday a group of us got up at 4 am and hiked to the top of a mountain. It took an hour, and our goal was to see the sunrise from the top. It was pitch black, there was no path, and we were going straight up. So many girls that were with me fell behind, and the people in front of me were so far ahead they were out of sight. I remember looking up and not seeing the path the others took. I had to figure it out, but not only that, I had people following me up the mountain. I had to be the one to take a step. I put one foot in front of the other, and began to hike.

Sometimes the Lord is growing things in us so that we are able to lead better. I want to grow and I want to be walking up the mountain. Often times people think leaders have it all together, and let me tell you - that is so far from the truth. I am in a constant state of messing up, and then learning from my mistakes. God is so so patient with us, and for that I love Him even more.