Have you ever walked into a room filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread or warm chocolate chip cookies? The effect is almost immediate—a welcoming sense of warmth that stirs fond memories and awakens the appetite. We often call such dishes “comfort food.” Why? Because certain foods have a unique ability to soothe us, often tied to cherished memories of people and places around shared meals.

There is another kind of comfort—one that brings tranquility and clarity to the mind and heart. It doesn’t stir hunger, but rather creativity and focus. I call it mental white space.

White space is a vital element across creative disciplines—writing, art, design, music, photography, and more. In writing, it enhances readability and gives the mind room to pause and reflect. In visual art and photography, it draws the eye to what matters. In design, it organizes and clarifies. In music, silence shapes rhythm and emotion. Though it appears empty, white space is active: it frames, highlights, and gives meaning to what surrounds it.

White space breathes.

It gives our minds and souls the space they need to rest, refocus, and ponder what matters most.

Why We Need White Space in our Leadership

Put more thought into your leisure time … when it comes to your relaxation, don’t default to whatever catches your attention at the moment, but instead dedicate some advance thinking to the question of how you want to spend your “day within a day.” 1— Cal Newport

I was recently convicted that I had been spending too much of my limited downtime watching TV. Although my schedule is full—many evenings are taken up with school functions—I had slipped into the habit of defaulting to television when I finally had a moment to rest. My justification was simple: “I deserve this time.”

Rest and relaxation are gifts from God. Jesus Himself said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). The Hebrew word Shabbat means “to cease,” “to end,” or “to rest.” Rest is good and necessary. But like all good gifts, it can be misused. Taken to excess, it becomes harmful. This is why moderation matters. As Proverbs 25:16 warns, “If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.” Even good things, when overindulged, can do more harm than good.

That doesn’t mean every moment should be filled with work. Although Scripture exhorts us to “Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16, MKJV), it does not require nonstop labor. Rest is good. Leisure is necessary. The question is not whether we rest, but how. Are we using our leisure time wisely?

That question led me to take a hard look at how I was spending mine—and to a growing conviction: my wife and I weren’t stewarding our leisure well. We both felt it. We weren’t using the gift of rest in ways that nourished our souls or honored the time God has entrusted to us.

So we made a change.

There are wolves outside your schoolhouse door. They want in. Some may already be inside—prowling the halls, lurking in classrooms, or occupying offices. But they don’t look like wolves. They look like sheep. They bleat like sheep. Yet, they are not sheep.

These are potential and current employees who appear good, sound good, and may even be highly competent. But deep in their hearts, they do not fully embrace the school’s biblical convictions and mission.

The greatest threat to your school’s mission does not come from government mandates or outside organizations—though these can be real dangers. Like storm clouds on the horizon, external threats are visible, allowing time to prepare.

The greater danger comes from within. Internal threats are subtle, persistent, and often unnoticed until the damage is done. The most significant of these is hiring staff who are not fully aligned with the school’s theology and mission—or who, over time, become influenced by cultural values that oppose them. This insidious threat arises from wolves who disguise themselves as faithful members of the school community.

Johnny Cash’s haunting song Ghost Riders in the Sky has always resonated with me as a powerful metaphor and cautionary tale about the dire consequences of sin and the urgent need for repentance. You can listen to the song on YouTube and most music streaming services. Take a few minutes to listen carefully to the words.

Given that Cash later professed to be a Christian, it’s likely this was the message he intended to convey. Mark Powell, in his article “The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Johnny Cash,” recounts how Cash, despite growing up in a Christian home, abandoned his faith after achieving fame and fortune. His life spiraled into darkness, marked by promiscuity, drugs, and the end of his marriage. However, Powell and those who knew Cash best testify that the Lord graciously drew him back to Himself. According to Powell, from that point on, Cash devoted the rest of his life to proclaiming Christ through his music, films, and public speaking.

Cash’s rendition of Ghost Riders in the Sky became a massive hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Released on April 1, 1979, the song tells the gripping tale of ghostly cowboys doomed to chase an elusive herd across stormy skies. It serves as a stark warning to a wayward cowboy: if he doesn’t change his ways, he will join the damned riders, forever condemned to “catch the Devil’s herd across these endless skies.”

While the song’s primary message is spiritual, I am using it as a metaphor for the concept of “ghost writers in the sky.”

The song’s imagery evokes the influence of unseen forces shaping the world, akin to ghostwriters who work in the background, crafting words, stories, and messages that others claim as their own. Much like the spectral cowboys riding across stormy skies in Cash’s song, AI exists invisibly in the digital realm. It operates in the “sky” of the cloud, generating content, ideas, and even entire articles and books—just like a ghostwriter whose hand remains unseen.

The Dangers of the AI Ghost Writer …

Dear Bill,

When I walked into this office just know I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too.

I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described. There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I'm not a very good one to give advice; but just don't let the critics discourage you or push you off course. You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our country's success. I am rooting hard for you.

Good Luck, George

That is the letter that George H. W. Bush left on January 20, 1993, to Bill Clinton during Clinton's transition to the presidency.1 Many presidents have followed the practice of leaving a letter of encouragement and advice to their successor.

While it is customary for a departing president to leave a letter of advice for the incoming president, this is not customary for a departing school administrator, nor is it common for the incoming leader to seek guidance from the successful leader they’re succeeding. That is unfortunate, as both practices would benefit the new leader and the school he or she leads.

The scriptures tell us that wisdom lies in many counselors (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6). One of your best sources of wisdom is the effective leader who came before you. They were successful for a reason and possess a wealth of knowledge that can prevent you from making mistakes and guide you toward success. Squandering this resource is like winning the lottery but refusing to claim your prize.

Assuming the former leader is available and willing, there are two reasons why an incoming leader may not seek the advice of the prior successful leader …

At the time of this writing, I do not know who will win the election. But, I am sure some will celebrate the results, while others will be disappointed, even despairing. Regardless of the outcome or whom we voted for, I am writing to encourage us to respond with hearts and minds at peace, trusting God, who ‘removes kings and sets up kings.’ I’m also writing to encourage us to show respect for all, neither gloating over nor demeaning the ‘other side.’

Elections and the Providence of God

In Ephesians 4:14, Paul warns us against being tossed back and forth by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine. While this verse explicitly addresses doctrinal stability, we can apply it to all life’s circumstances, including the outcome of an election. Though the world is frequently in turmoil with political strife, God calls his people to remain firmly anchored in an unwavering trust in His good and wise providence.

Providence is a word seldom used by contemporary Christians. That is unfortunate because understanding the doctrine of providence can bring peace to anxious hearts and minds.

Over my 35 years of experience in school leadership, I have observed three parenting styles: Exasperating, Excusing, and Empowering ... Parenting is a high-wire act that balances high expectations, support, and freedom with accountability so that children can learn from their successes and failures.