A Teachable Moment: The Heart Behind the Vision
Chief of Staff
Psalms 32:8 (NIV) says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."
There are moments in our lives, no matter how old you are, that the Lord will use a decision you make to teach you a lesson. I made a decision once, based on vision I had in a personal project I’ve been working on for about three years… and I was excited about it. As a creative person, I can get deeply invested in building something. I see where it could go, what it could become, and sometimes I become so focused on the destination that I forget to look around at who is walking the journey with me.
The decision itself made perfect sense. I had every right to make it. It was my vision, my responsibility, and ultimately my call. I made it with a clear goal in mind. But once I declared it, I saw the reaction of the people who were walking with me. It wasn’t disagreement. It wasn’t frustration. It was unmitigated heartbreak. People I care about were genuinely hurt. These were people who had believed in me, trusted me, and invested themselves in something I created. As I listened to their opinions, I felt a conviction settle over me unlike anything I had expected.
As I reflected, I heard the Lord say, “If you have to hurt someone to bring your vision to fruition, I’m not in it. That’s not Me.”
That statement stopped me in my tracks and there was no going forward without repentance. I asked forgiveness before God and the people I had hurt. I received grace I didn’t expect… and what I came to realize is that stewardship is not just about managing resources. It's about caring for people. For a moment, I had forgotten that. The words the Lord spoke to me were a gentle reminder of one of my favorite bible verses, “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, nevertheless, it’s the Lord’s counsel that will stand.” Prov 19:21 This is a lesson I will never forget.
At Judah 1, we often talk about aircraft, missions, logistics, cargo, and operations. Those things matter. But make no mistake. Our ministry has never been about airplanes. It's about people. Every volunteer who serves with Judah 1 has chosen to give something precious. Not because they have to, but because they want to. They believe in the mission. They give their time. They give their talent. They give their energy. They bestow their trust.
Volunteerism is a sacred gift. When someone volunteers, they are saying, "I believe in this enough to give a piece of my life to it." That is something Judah 1 leaders have never taken lightly. My personal experience reminded me that leadership is not simply casting a vision. It is carrying responsibility for the hearts of the people who choose to follow that vision. This is how I’m treated at Judah 1 as a volunteer.
If you have a heart for people and a desire to make a difference, we invite you to join the Judah 1 team. Because when "Your Hands. God's Love. Our Wings." come together, lives are changed.