HOW TO BE A SQUAD LEADER
What is a squad leader? How do you be a good squad leader?
I ask myself these questions at least ten times a day. And what’s interesting is the answer changes depending on who you ask.
If you ask some people (aka me) they’d tell you about the list of responsibilities we were given during training. I keep track of time, make sure people are where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there, enforce covid regulations, communicate between the squad and our mentor, announce the schedule for the day, and yada yada.
This is what any given day on the Race has looked like here in Gainesville –
7:45 AM – Temperature checks
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Personal Devo
10:00 AM – Session
12:30 PM – Lunch meeting
1:30 PM – Rotations (exercise, laundry, squad time, etc)
5:30 PM – Dinner
6:30 PM – Team Time (feedback, fun, gratitude, etc)
7:30 PM – Free Time (usually consists of 1on1s or leader responsibilities)
10:00 PM – Bedtime
It’s a lot. It’s overwhelming sometimes. One day I realized that if I made a google spreadsheet of my schedule I could actually plan out every hour of my day from the minute I wake up to the moment I go to sleep and there wouldn’t be an hour to spare. However, I’ve realized that when that’s my focus I’m basically a blur. All of the sudden it’s Friday and another week has flown by right before my eyes.
Now, when I ask God how to be a squad leader I get a very different response. Usually God asks me, why are you asking that question? Then, I find myself asking a question that I’ve been asking a lot lately – what question should I be asking? God’s response is different but always revolves around this idea – who is God asking me to be? How can I be that today?
So, I ask. God, who are You asking me to be? In this season, He has asked me to be His daughter. WHAT? What does that mean? How can I be a daughter any more than I already just am a daughter? A daughter is a title…not a job. A daughter doesn’t have responsibilities…
And that’s when it hits me. I hear God whisper gently – Exactly.
So, what is God inviting me into? He’s inviting me into a life with Him. I’m so quick to go to God and run away to do whatever He’s asked me to do. All along, He has just wanted me to grab His hand and take Him with me to go and love His people.
What does it mean to be a son or daughter, a child of God? I get to know His close presence. I get to experience overwhelming love. I get to enjoy the good gifts He gives me. Then, I get to take Him with me throughout my day and it changes everything. Yes, I still have responsibilities. Yes, I still choose to do them with excellence and to the best of my ability. But I get to rest in the knowledge that I am loved, I am enough, and I have the God of the universe by my side.
So, how do you be a squad leader? I have no idea. But I am learning how to be a daughter. It’s not always easy when the world and the enemy try to tell me my worth is found in how well I do my job. But the grace of God is that every time I go to the Lord’s feet and pick back up what I’ve already set down, He invites me again and again to come and set it down once more. I set down my responsibilities. I set down my teams. I set down my friendships. I set down my performance. I set down my desire to please people. And then I get to simply be.
Is there something you need to set at the Lord’s feet? Who is God asking you to be today? What does it look like to live as a son or daughter of the Most High King?
Scripture: John 1:12, Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:1
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Just ‘being’ is so challenging yet so freeing! Thanks for the vulnerability my friend! I know that your squad so benefits from being around your authentic joy and grit. You are a kingdom bringer. I love you and miss you so so much!
I’ve always greatly admired your sweet ability to be honest and true to exactly where you are, and this season is no different. I’m so proud to know you Em! What a beloved daughter, incredible friend, and fervent leader you are. I’m so glad you said yes to Gap Squad and keep showing up with your yes, trusting the story, and that you’re deeply needed exactly where you are!!
this was so good!!
“and then I get to simply be”…yes Em!! That last line was beautiful and your words flow so smoothly off the page! Your writing speaks and shines through you! thanks for this update pal!
It was refreshing to see another blog. I miss reading them regularly from Morgan’s old team. Hope all is well. Your in good hands.
Beautiful!
Emilyyyyy!!! Wow…your gift for putting words to spiritual things is stronger than ever. There is so much to love about the way you reframed THE question. You clearly have the same brilliant mind and tender heart as when we first met… but now so much wisdom!!! I (still) think you’re amazing.