If you’ve ever flown on a plane, you’ve undoubtedly heard the flight attendant say something like, “in the unlikely event of a water evacuation your seat bottom cushion can be used as a flotation device.” Why do they start a plane ride with these words? As if some people aren’t nervous enough as it is! Then you add, oh by the way there’s a chance we might crash and you’re going to have to swim using your seat to keep you afloat! Um, no thanks…I’ll walk!

This post really isn’t about flying but the analogy gives us a starting point. I love how they start that with unlikely event! I sure hope it’s unlikely! But just because it’s not likely doesn’t mean I am any more ok with the idea of it. How do you deal with unlikely things coming up in your life?

I have to be honest and tell you that I really don’t deal well with surprises. I don’t like things that I can’t see coming. I like to plan, prepare, and then have a backup in the case of a needed change in direction. Sometimes people see this side of me and think I’m cold or even emotionless. Sometimes people see that I already have a what-if plan and assume that I never expected the first one to last. But that’s just not true. I just don’t like being caught in a place where I don’t know which way to turn.

I’ve been doing a lot of digging through leadership material on my shelves. One thing I’ve noticed is, even if the books don’t explicitly say it, they all seem to refer to a principle of leadership that a good leader expects the unexpected. No, I’m not saying that good leaders are prophets, but they should be ahead of the crowd. They should see things from a different vantage point. They should be able to have a plan for how to deal with a problem, sometimes before it even happens.

But there’s a danger in living in the unlikely. You can become so focus on what might happen that you fail to live in the moment. So this is one of the struggles of leadership with which I wrestle. Be far enough ahead to anticipate what’s coming, but not so far ahead that you just aren’t there anymore.

So to all who walk with me in life, if I’m too far ahead and you can’t see me, say something. Please! Let me know you’re feeling left behind. And in the unlikely event that we make a water landing don’t worry, the font is shallow but the grace is deep! Be blessed.