Roles

“Honesty is the only policy!”  Whoa.  I heard someone say that many years ago.  Last century actually.  Although it was a long time ago, I have never forgotten it.
A game of rugby league was happening.  One of the players exclaimed “honesty is the best policy.”  It was at that point this person said, “honest is not the best policy, it is the only policy.”
Although I agreed with him, I felt he was like a positive magnet and I was too.  No matter how close I wanted to get, I was always repelled.  No doubt others could relate to him, and although I felt his words were great and right, he was someone I could aspire to, but not someone I could relate to.
I find it very easy to say things, and a lot harder to do things.  I find my aspirations are good, but my execution leaves something to be desired.  It is probably why I am not afraid to acknowledge that I need help.  I find it way easier to align myself with folk I know have been through it in a similar way I have, and come out the other side.  I am sure the person I could not get close to had, but his experience was foreign to me.
The only reason I would want to be on a pedestal is if I was on B, and me being there was to help someone get from A to C.  It sounds noble, but it is not.  Someone else helped me get to B in the first place.  I don’t know that I was designed to do it on my own.  If I was, I would not need anyone else.  But I do.
No wonder they say the sum of the total, is greater than the sum of its parts.  I am a great believer in doing things together.  In any battle a great strategy is to isolate.  Sometimes doing things together is just me recognising someone’s talent, and freeing them up to pursue it.  At other times it is someone recognising mine, and freeing me up. 
Either way, an eye needs to be kept out to encourage, correct and instruct.  Being freed up is not a licence to do anything.  Everyone’s dreams must align with the leaders dreams.  It can be dangerous, and sometimes egg is left on the face, but it is not about predicting but enabling.
It may be that I cannot relate to someone (like the person who said honesty is the only policy) but someone I am with can, and they bring out the best in them. What we are trying to achieve is the richer for that person’s involvement. If it was left to me, that person would have been left out, and no one deserves that.  There is a role for everyone if they want it.
Whether I like it or not, I not only have strengths, I have weaknesses.  If I am alone my weaknesses can be exposed.  If I am in a group, then my weakness may be someone else’s strength, and we compliment.  I will always endeavour to do all that is needed, but there are others who can do some things a lot better than I can.  Some things I am best for.  There are other things I will do if I need to, but always with an eye out for someone who can do it better, and who wants to do it.
Besides, allowing others to do what they are good at, frees me up to pursue what I am good at.