Introduction

Standing in front of a picture in my hallway at home I was crying.  It had been a tough season of hard work, ice cold weather, too many needs, not enough money, sickness and abandonment by people.  I don’t know why I stopped there that day, but I stood there weeping trying to look at the beautiful picture of a forest of trees with the sun shining through.

Gently a quiet voice said to me, “which tree are you?” And I began to really look through my tears at the trees in the picture.  I noticed for the first time that the sun beam was a shaft of light that shone down through the trees and landed on the very last tree to the very edge of the picture. It was shining up the bark of the single tree that I had missed the whole time the picture had been hanging here.

He said to me, “you are the tree that I am shining on…”

I stopped crying and stood there amazed at His gracious words to me.  This incredible little personal experience was the turning point for me.  Those words strengthened me at a very dark time of my life.  Many years later I still have that picture… it means the world to me.  And I shall never forget the words I heard that day.  The picture on the cover of this book, ‘Growing the Leader Within You’ describes that picture.

You stand as if you are in a forest….. with many people and issues like trees all around you. Through the many experiences of your life there have been dark times for you as well.  But a Light is shining down from above the tree line and it’s turning your history into the wisdom of leadership for tomorrow.  Growing the Leader Within You is the uncovering of those principals within. Look at the cover of this book and be encouraged!  The Light is shining on you!