“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise, it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”— Corrie Ten BoomDid you ever hold onto something so tightly that you squeezed the life out of it? I’m sure if we had the ten thousand foot view more often, our grip would relax enough to support a healthier growth.It took many years of mistakes, prayer, modifying my behavior and releasing irrational thoughts of control to truly understand what being a leader is. And I am still learning.What I have realized is that God gives each person individual gifts and talents. By releasing a choking grip, praying to see those gifts in others more clearly and supporting their actions and efforts I am actually following God’s plan for all creation.Butterflies are released from cocoons, seeds that break out of shells produce new growth and parents of humans or animals benefit their young by releasing them to live into their own lives. Sometimes the young may fall, and people make mistakes or problems may pop up. As leaders, we walk alongside and help each other past the moment as we celebrate the results.It seems to be the plan God lays out for us. We lead and follow as we attempt to create harmony and open our minds and hands to the blessings being shared.Praying for peace….Pastor Lou StrugalaNJSP, ACPO Chaplain