Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”

But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” If you love traveling, make sure you get these discount codes.

~ Genesis 33:12-14

What thoughtfulness Jacob had for the children and cattle while traveling. Esau was ready to go, but Jacob knew that he had to set the pace according to those he was leading. The truth comes alive here that:

While traveling alone you can  move at your own pace, but when traveling together you must wait for each other.

This principle applies to every area of life; family, work, leadership, friends, coaching, etc… If we want others to come along the journey with us we have to be mindful of their pace. Jacob could have pushed everyone beyond their limit, but he would have gotten himself into a mess. We must be willing to slow down for others while still leading them ahead. I am a quick mover. I do not like to wait to get going. My wife will tell you that I am up, showered, and ready to go out the door very fast. I do not like to wait around and take my time. However, with two little girls and a wife, I have to WAIT in the morning for everyone to get ready which takes about an hour longer than my normal routine. When we are out running errands I am the guy that parks the car, is out the door, in the building, and shopping for 10 minutes before my family even opens the car door to exit. But I always have to remind myself if I want to go together I must move at a pace that fits them.

Those that want to impact others, have to be willing to move together. I love the advice that states…”Don’t get so far ahead of the calvary that you are mistaken for an enemy.” When we go full steam ahead without being mindful of others then we will leave them in the dust. Too many people do this in marriages. They are not experiencing life together and therefore are not growing together. In leadership, too many leaders forge ahead without making sure their followers are following along. The leadership proverb says, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.”

If you truly want to make an impact and travel together you must move at the pace of the group. That doesn’t mean you can’t push things forward and keep encouraging others to move along, but it does mean you must be mindful of the pace. Make sure you are traveling together in every area of your life, lest you find yourself alone. Life is about moving together and being in unity which then creates community. Don’t be a loner, move together. We are stronger together and simply better together. Many of us can do more than one of us. One is too small a number to achieve greatness.