October was pastor appreciation month. The congregation I pastor was so generous throughout the month sending words or encouragement and demonstrating generosity above and beyond what I deserve. (The congregation’s name is Grace, so there’s that).

Several years back I was with a couple of other pastors who were sharing some discouragements and one shared how someone told him that they liked their leaders “just so.” My mind couldn’t let the expression go, so I wrote a poem.

You may listen to me read the poem via the player below.

We like our leaders just so--
Not too brash, not too bold.
We like them humble, but not so much so.
We like our leaders just so.

We like them selfless,
Who serve without putting on a show.
Not pretentious, ostentatious,
Modest and humble,
Not too high but not too low.
That's how we like our leaders. 

Just so,
You know from the start,
From the get go, we have no issue
With receiving, following, heeding,
We hope you got the memo.
And we like you too,
(We thought you'd like to know),
We like our leaders.

Just so
We're clear (and although
No one's perfect) we'd like you
To be the closest to perfect
Of anyone we know—
Who'll play their part
In our well-imagined dreams,
Lead us in fulfilling all our schemes,
Who is authentic down to their bones,
Who really is, not merely seems,
Someone we can trust more than anything.
We like our leaders.

We like our leaders just. So
You'll need to measure up,
Exude perfection,
Reflect our fronting, our righteous reflection,
Our confident, prosperous, self-projection.
We like our leaders just.

So, why are you wearing that towel?
Why disrobed? Down on your knee?
Why touch my feet as a slave?
Why wash me?

Why don't you speak, live up to the hype?
Do the deeds which brought you fame?
Are we to follow one so derided, disdained?

Defend yourself, why scorn the shame?
Why bear the cursing, take all the blame?
We like our leaders just.

So, you'll have to do better;
You'll have rise higher;
You'll have to break out
Of this lamb of God game.
You’ll need to make a better name
If we're to follow you into your dominion;
You may not like it, but that's our opinion.
There's just no glory for a lion laid low
Because we like our leaders just so.

© Randall Edwards 2017
This poem is for Christ’s church. If it is helpful, please feel free to copy or reprint in church bulletins, read aloud, or repost. I only ask that an attribution be cited to myself (Randall Edwards) and this blog (backwardmutters.com). Thanks.
Artwork: image appearing on page 13 of The Story of the Three Bears by Leonard Leslie Brooke 1900.