It is cute watching a teacher play "follow the leader" with her first-grade students. It is exhilarating obeying the commands of a white-water rafting guide. It is terrifying when a fire fighter yells, "follow me," to residents of a burning building. It was brutal waiting and hoping search teams could rescue all the boys and their coach from the Thailand cave. Leading and following is common, critical, and consequential. In 1 Peter, the apostle knows the Jesus-movement was young and in the midst of a "fiery ordeal" of suffering, testing, and growth. Its future depended on courageous and competent leaders, faithful followers, and a mutual commitment to humility. Though our ordeal may look different, it can feel fiery just the same. For each of us in this beautiful flow we call The River, the risk and responsibility of leading and following remain high.
Bill
