There have been moments in my life where I didn’t act—not because I didn’t care, and not because I didn’t know what was right—but because I hesitated. I wanted more data. I didn’t want to rock the boat. I feared rejection, or being seen as “too much” in the wrong moment.
One of those moments still lingers.
During Squadron Officer School, my flight had been performing at the top. We had the momentum, the wins, and the cohesion to earn recognition. But at the final roll call—where each flight’s results were reviewed—one of the scoring categories was mysteriously missing. It was a category we had dominated.
No one mentioned it. No one questioned it. And neither did I.
I wanted to say something. I knew something didn’t add up. But I hesitated. I convinced myself it wasn’t my place, or maybe the moment had already passed. I sat in the back, waiting for someone else to speak.
They didn’t. And that silence cost us. Another flight was recognized instead. What we didn’t know at the time was that we were also in competition to be the top flight across squadrons—a distinction that would have earned us center stage at graduation.
Our flight at Squadron Officer School. I remember this moment—and the one I missed.
It wasn’t about the award.
It was about the moment.
And I missed it.
The Woman Who Didn’t Ask
That story came flooding back to me as I listened to a sermon on Luke 13:10–17—the story of a woman who had been bent over for 18 years.
She never asked to be healed. She didn’t shout or plead. She simply showed up.
And Jesus stopped everything to call her forward, to speak over her, and to set her free.
What struck me wasn’t just the healing—it was the boldness of Jesus to act in a moment full of religious tension and opposition. To disrupt the norm. To see someone no one else saw and do something about it.
It was a reminder: Sometimes leadership is about acting even when no one else does. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it’s not perfect.
When We Wait Too Long
That missed opportunity at SOS wasn’t about a title or a moment in the spotlight. It was about what happens when we wait for the “right” conditions to lead. When we silence ourselves in the name of professionalism or passivity. When we think courage requires certainty.
It doesn’t.
And that’s what the sermon so powerfully drove home. One line in particular still echoes in my spirit:
“You don’t need everything to do anything.”
Me at Husband Auditorium—the space where I stayed quiet once, but left determined to lead differently next time.
Six Leadership Reminders from the Synagogue (and the Silence)
- Everything God has for you will require courage.
Leadership demands action in moments of uncertainty—not just faith, but fortitude. - Avoid transactional leadership.
Don’t only lead when the outcome is guaranteed. Lead because it’s the right thing to do. - Rejection isn’t failure.
Don’t let silence from others or disagreement convince you to play small. - You don’t always need more power—just more patience.
Sometimes leadership means waiting faithfully and still showing up when it’s hard. - God moves in the middle of the mayhem.
Chaos isn’t a disqualifier. Often, it’s the context for your most meaningful impact. - Silence can still change everything.
The woman never spoke—but her presence, her consistency, her faithfulness interrupted heaven.
Final Reflection
I’ve replayed that moment at SOS in my head more times than I’d like to admit. But I no longer sit in shame. I sit in awareness.
I see now that leadership isn’t about having every detail aligned. It’s not about being the loudest or most certain in the room. It’s about trusting that if you’re being prompted to move, move.
So the next time the moment comes—and it will—don’t wait for the missing piece to validate what you already know.
You don’t need everything to do anything. You just need to trust the Conductor and play your part.
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