People sometimes refer to leadership as “herding cats.” It’s a delightful visual metaphor. But I find its inherent nihilism removes the responsibility of everyone involved. Because cats can’t be herded. Nor should they be.

We need a better analogy.

Ministry in 2024 feels a lot like coaching a team full of players who refuse to run drills or even come to practice. And then, come game day, only half of them show up.

I don’t intend to throw shade—because I’m not good at practicing, either. But the willfulness in cats to not behave is far more a part of their nature. We don’t expect cats to learn tricks (they aren’t dogs). But we do expect people to learn things and behave in public.

What we’re trying to do is figure out how to do something together in an individualistic culture. One that prioritizes doing whatever we want, thinking of ourselves as the star player, and with a general skepticism of institutions.

As leaders, pastors, and priests, many of us are helping willing people choose to do things that will bring greater spiritual maturity. And we find that very willingness is often broken down by competing desires. One of which is often “Don’t make me do ____.”

We know that practice is essential to performance in sports, music, and pretty much everything else in life. Why would we treat our spirituality any differently?