The Ascent of a Leader by Thrall, McNicol, & McElrath

Finished 7/13/2010

The heart of this book is the metaphor the authors use of a ladder to illustrate that within the context of grace-filled environments and grace-filled relationships (the two stringers of the ladder), a sucessful leader will need to progress through five stages (rungs): vulnerabiliy, trust, honoring truth, paying the priace, and fullfilling God's call. This is the character ladder, which is often neglected in deference to the capacity ladder which is all about ambition. The steps of the capacity ladder are not wrong in themselves, but without the grace piece from the character ladder, a leader may make it to the top, but will find it lonely and unfulfilling.

My greatest take-away from this book is a renewed vision to build grace-filled environments and relationships. Sometimes it's difficult as a Christian to define what it really means to "plant seeds." The authors say, "Grace begets grace. Trace an act of grace back to its roots, and you will find that ultimately its source is God. Follow an act of grace to its conclusion, and you will find that eventually it leads people back to God (p 29), "The unmerited favor of God, when transferred through human acts of unmeritied favor, transforms even the most hardened hearts" (p 30).

For a long time I have struggled with my role as a teacher. My mission seemed so much clearer when I was a pastor. I could simply preach the gospel or provide environments and opportunities for the gospel to be heard. As a teacher I have often wondered what the heck God wants me to do? Creating grace-filled environments and relationships seems to be the answer for me, for now at least.