As a leader, it often can be our responsibility to take our teams deeper into value. Our families are stronger when the relationships grow deeper. Our teams strengthen as we seek and grow the value proposition deeply. But when any of the team falls, we become at risk. Falls do not hurt people; it is the landing that hurts. When falling, our minds get off track of the value and begin to think about the landing or the results of it. Fall in the ocean and you might begin to think about how long you can swim. You might even begin to wonder how long you could hold your breath. One might have seaweed entangling you and of course, sharks are always lurking it seems! Falling into the ocean will take your mind off of what it was on originally. As a leader, we want to seek those oceans of opportunity and when we do, we prepare. We get diving gear, training and if appropriate, equipment like shark cages and spear guns. Where might any of your team be tied up in the seaweed? Someone on the dive team should always have a dive knife. You may not think you are a leader. But if you can help someone grow deeper in ways that provide value, you are a leader. If you can bring the gear to help someone get into the water safely, you are a leader. When you show up and help someone cut loose the seaweed that has them wrapped up, you are a leader. What is the first thing you can do to be a leader in the next seven days? Sometimes the only permission you need is your own.

We find value in our faith when we dig deeper as well. Discussing a topic in a Sunday school, small group, or understanding a sermon can connect us deeper. We can take the seasons of our faith and commit them to spiritual practices like fasting, doing a prayer journal, or starting a devotion. But if we get caught up in falling, our perception jumps almost automatically to the landing. That is what fear does to us. We read, "“I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.” Jonah 2:5 NLT. That sounds scary to me, what about you? I am not in that ocean today and it sounds scary. Sometimes fear and being scared is just a matter of perception. Where do you think it feels like the seaweed is getting to you? Maybe it is time to go deeper into prayer, reflection, or meditation in our relationship with Christ. Just because it seems like seaweed is wrapped around you does not mean that it is. Maybe it is just your scarf that the wind has blown around. In your faith, you are the leader and make the decisions about how to grow. On the other side of fear is freedom. Move the seaweeds out of your way. Get the Bible out and dig deeper into it and you may find that it provides the protection of a shark cage for your faith. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, thank you for our emotions as we might experience the mountain tops with you. But when we fall from those peaks it can be scary. Guide us and hold us in the comfort of the palms of your hands when that occurs. May we have the confidence and wisdom to remember the innocence of the prayers of children. We are your children. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,