How one player discovered God’s purpose post baseball.
The memory is crystal clear. There I sat, facing an empty screen at our dining room table, crafting my first resume at 35. When I came to the section labeled “work experience,” it struck me like lightning—I had nothing to list beyond “player here” and “player there.”
For the first time, I felt adrift and alone, uneasy and unfulfilled. A deep disconnect emerged between where I was and where I thought I would be – between who I was and who I thought I would be. I longed for something more, but couldn’t pinpoint what.
This uncertainty can be paralyzing for leaders. We know we can’t retreat, we can’t stay put, yet the path forward is unclear. Many leaders hit this wall and feel stuck; sadly, most remain there, plateauing in their growth, development, and influence. In these moments, reflection becomes crucial before venturing into unknown territory.
Our lives are molded by the people, places, and events we encounter. God is always at work. The question isn’t “Is God working?” but rather, “What is He doing, and how can I align with and participate in His plan?”
One such formative moment came during a discussion with Steve Sonderman, my chaplain with the Milwaukee Brewers—or better yet, my friend. If we’re attentive, every moment becomes an opportunity for God to shape us into who He created us to be. Rather than just being “a event” on our calendar these moments can become “an event” that have meaning and are meaningful.
Steve might not recall his words, but I do: “Train the leaders to launch the movement.”
My story isn’t unique. Every year, hundreds of athletes worldwide experience this unsettling feeling as they leave a game they have given their lives to. This story isn’t unique to just athletes, no one is immune to these feelings when their profession or job becomes so deeply ingrained in who they are that they feel lost without it. After Steve’s words, nearly every conversation I had echoed a similar narrative. In those moments, I recognized a calling—not something I needed to do, something I had to do.
This realization became a pivotal moment in my journey, guiding me towards a new purpose. It highlighted the importance of not just being a leader, but of nurturing other leaders to create lasting change.
As we navigate our leadership paths, it’s crucial to remember that our experiences, even the challenging ones, can become the foundation for our greatest contributions. By embracing these moments of uncertainty and using them as catalysts for growth, we can transform not only our own lives but also positively impact those around us.
As I reflected on my conversation with Steve and countless others, I realized that my future path was intricately woven into who I was. This breakthrough led to the formation of Congruency, our leadership development initiative. At Congruency, we’re committed to helping leaders make their invisible lives visible so they can break from where they are and become who they were created to be. We believe in the power of clarity—identifying the underlying currents that shape our lives.
I have realized over the last two and half years of this journey that when what’s happening in your head—and your heart—is incongruent with your outward everyday life it may not just be hurting you—it’s potentially depriving the world of what only you can offer. Remember, your journey as a leader isn’t just about you; it’s about influencing others and creating a ripple effect that lasts into eternity.
For more information on Josh Lindblom’s ministry, visit: https://www.congruency.co/
