They say that the greatest leader isn’t the one who has the Most abilities, but the one who has the most Availability to Serve Others. When looking at our world, it’s easy to conclude that we focus on the abilities. We focus on who can break Michael Jordan’s shooting record the fastest? Who will be the next winner of The Voice? Who will win the Inaugural College Football Playoff? Who will win the 2016 Presidential Election?
Case in point, our society is consumed with abilities and although it’s great to possess them, a question we should be asking is what will we do with them? Abilities say, “this is what I can do.” Availability says, “this is what I am Willing to do.” It’s so easy to have the ability to do something, but it’s whole other matter entirely to be available to do it. I can’t think of a better example of this then when the Christmas Story was Born.
Joseph and Mary were entering the city of Bethlehem on a very late night. Mary was expecting a child and they knew the baby would be born that evening. As they entered the city, they looked all over town trying to find a place to stay. The Bible tells us they couldn’t find any room in the inn. They ended up putting the baby in a manger, because there was no room anywhere else. My mind immediately goes to the innkeeper who could’ve been part of the greatest story ever told. While he had the resources, and the ability to help, he did not understand what could have been, otherwise he would’ve made room for the greatest birth in all of history. Instead, he ended up missing an opportunity, an opportunity that was literally knocking on his door. All it took for him to make a difference in this story was for him to be available.
You see, I don’t want to be like the innkeeper. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to change a life. I don’t want to miss a chance to make a difference all because I was so occupied with my own endeavors. I don’t want to miss the drawing of leadership, because too many times we do. I don’t want to be staring at the ceiling, when Hope is knocking at my door. This Christmas, I want to be like the band, Aerosmith, because “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. There is a Vacancy in all of our Hearts. You and I may not have the greatest abilities in the world, but we can have a heart that’s willing, we can have a mind that’s open, and we can have hands that are available to do the things we are meant to do. This Christmas I challenge you to be open to others, be there for one another, & be a shoulder someone can cry on. Because the question isn’t whether you can do something, but rather, are you willing to do something?
Brandon Baumgarten 