Passing the torch

"Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo...And Moses the servant of the Lord died there at Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is."

Deuteronomy 34:1, 5, 6

In 1991 a Russian cosmonaut by the name of Krikalev left Leningrad for a 313-day journey into space. When he returned almost a year later, the ussr no longer existed. The city of Leningrad to which he returned once again bore the name St. Petersburg, since references to Lenin were no longer in politically good taste. He was in space not even for a year, but upon his return, like Rip Van Winkle, he found his world had totally changed.

We resist change, yet ours is a changing world. Today there are the young Trojans who are eager to change things and the old warriors who hold on to leadership, resisting change and often refusing to listen to new ideas. That’s one of the reasons why young companies with aggressive leadership often make quantum leaps forward, while older, more conservative ones merely plod on year after year. Young, aggressive companies are volatile and may crash and burn while the older ones make less but are more stable.

Do the same principles apply to individuals? Absolutely. Over the years I have seen men resist change while younger, very capable men grew weary with the status quo and left the organization. Other individuals, though, provide capable leadership for years until they wisely sense that it is time to pass the torch to a younger person. Such a leader may become "President Emeritus" or retire, amid love and affection, in a blaze of glory.

Is there an easy way to synthesize the wisdom of years with the dynamic "go get ’em" energy of youth? When it can be done, a company or an organization is the one stronger for it. But all too often, pride and ego get in the way.

Take time to read Deuteronomy 32 in your Old Testament and notice how God raised up an 80-year-old man to lead his people. For forty years Moses led God’s people. Then the time finally came when God told Moses to pass the baton to Joshua.

God has a will regarding timing. When God’s time comes, whether for a younger man to take the torch of leadership and run with it, or for an older man to step aside and offer counsel and much prayer, you need to know. Refusing to heed the voice of God when He says, "Now!" has frequently resulted in organizations and businesses losing ground that could have been gained by a younger, more energetic leader.

A final thought: Retirement isn’t a biblical concept. Quitting just isn’t in the Book. But training a Joshua to take over, or simply realizing that there are seasons to life and leadership, and knowing when to say "Enough", is just as important as first hearing the voice of God and saying, "Yes, Lord."

On a personal note, I’m not sure that organizations should be sustained indefinitely simply because they are there. But I am most certain that God can give guidance in the sunset just as well as in the exuberance of a new day.

Resource Reading: Deuteronomy 34