Silent Leadership

Last Thursday the doctor informed me that I have a polyp on my vocal chords and the size of it is quite large. I have been having vocal issues for around six months since I became extremely weak in November for a couple of months. I was bed-ridden for approximately 3-weeks. This polyp is very serious and may require surgery on my vocal chords. I am not sure what is going to happen right now, but I have decided to be joyful in all things.

It is hard to be joyful when your prized possession has been taken away. Not only do I speak in a variety of settings for a living but I also sing for a living and my enjoyment. There is nothing better than sitting down to write a new song and sing the new parts. This obstacle has been an issue—but the joy remain in this season of loss. Don’t get me wrong, there have been times that I have been down but what can you expect when you lose a part of yourself that is so important. Everyone needs time to grieve a loss. For a minimum of three-to-four weeks, I am mute, and I have to wait to see what will occur next.

Leadership has its ups and downs too. A project can become a part of ourselves, and when it is either canceled or finished, there is a time of grieving the loss of the assignment we have become so invested too. Learning how to take time to mourn is critical to moving on.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, ASV).

When a new project arises there is reborn an excitement that fills the soul once more. Facing these new challenges brings a refreshing sense of importance and an increase in the desire to accomplish. Moving forward offers many benefits but never miss the opportunity to mourn. One of my favorite biblical passages says that is is more important to visit a graveyard than a part. Why is this? It is because when we take time to reflect on the realities of life we appreciate the good times even more and we realize our own temporal nature.

Being mute has offered an important opportunity to listen and even learn how others live. While it is a struggle and I can mourn at times, I do not feel it is necessarily a bad thing for a time. I am striving to learn something new through this experience. Take to heart whatever obstacles you are facing and seek to understand what you can learn through them. Take time to realize the importance of what you are going through and tackle the obstacles head on.