This morning during the pre-dawn, hours I was watching an old episode of “I Love Lucy” – the black & white ones! This episode like so many others centered on Lucy’s insatiable desire to perform in one of Ricky’s musicals. There seemed to be no length that she wouldn’t go to make sure she was available to be a part of the show! Ricky, knowing that his lovely wife wasn’t suited for the spotlight (so he thought), would still devise or rework a scene in the show that would feature Lucy in a “minor” role. Those minor role’s would become “major” roles once Lucy got involved … she would see to that! What a comedienne!
As I laughed to myself (remember it’s the pre-dawn hour), it occurred to me that in the workplace, church, religious organization or the home, there always seems to be a “Lucy” trying to get the spotlight. Many times they are honest people who just simply want an opportunity to experience the “limelight” for a moment and then they will be fine and will allow things to continue as they were. Kind of like little Johnny wanting to sing for his aunts & uncles at Thanksgiving just to get a rise out of them for a moment and after the attention he’s fine. Well what do you do when you know someone is not suited for the stage, but insists to you and everyone else who will listen that they are? Well for starters it’s a good idea to see if they are serious in their request. Do they have a true passion for the work?! Then, which is often the case, training or mentoring is in order. In the bible the older Apostle Paul trained and mentored the younger minster Timothy. I don’t think Timothy was vying for attention (especially since some of Paul’s words to him may suggest that he was timid) but nonetheless he started out ill-equipped for the job i.e. he was young, inexperienced, at a large church, and compared to Paul, he was a complete novice!
Yet the apostle spent his time and attention on him to assure him that although he may not be ready for center-stage at the moment, if he followed his lead, he would one day be an equipped and empowered minster! We get a glimpse of this in 1 Timothy 4:12-14 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you …” (NKJV). That may very well be what Lucy needed! Maybe if Ricky recognized that she was talented and just needed to be directed (or re-directed) he would’ve experienced less of her shenanigans and would have welcomed her as a valued member of his team. That’s a function of leadership! John C. Maxwell writes “God doesn’t necessarily choose leaders based on their natural talent or ability. Neither does He always choose them based on their age and experience. God chooses leaders based on their availability not their ability …” (The Maxwell Leadership Bible). Although Lucy may not have been really talented, she was always there and ready!
In your home, job, or church, if you are leader you must keep your eyes and ears open for those looking for opportunities to shine. Sometimes they will purposely jump in your eyesight or scream in your ears, but your job is to evaluate the desire or request and determine with God’s help, where and when they can be utilized to share their gifts and talents. It is also your job to refer “Lucy’s” to a sideline position if that is necessary! “Lucy, you’ve got some splaining to do!”
Now you have the CLUE!
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