GlocalNet

My son Ben and I were talking recently about leadership.  Who would you say the greatest leader of the 19th century was?  Lincoln - globally as well because the war for the freedom for slaves was so massive.  Who was the greatest leader of the 20th century?  Churchill, hands down.  Yes FDR was a great American leader - but Churchill was more of a global leader than even FDR. 

What did those two men have in common?  They were failures all throughout their careers.  You know the stories, both ran for office and lost.  Both had huge failures in their work and careers, but each moved forward.  Amazing how someone could be such a failure and such an incredible leader - not really.  This is the stuff legends are made of. 

Failure is a reality for all of us.  How we handle failure is the test.  Those who failure beats up, discourages, and causes to quit wind up disappointed, sour, bitter, going nowhere, dreaming of what could have been.  Those who learn from failure, grow from it are the real leaders.  When moments come - they’re ready and they’re present. 

BUT - you can’t plan for moments like this - you never know when and why they will come.  Moments don’t wait for leaders like this, moments come and go and history will be defined by the quality of leader present at those “moments” when leadership is so critical. 

The Civil War was a moment in time.  WWII was a moment in time.  For both to have the outcomes they did, required men like Lincoln and Churchill.  Here’s the thing, men and women like that aren’t waiting for a moment.  They are surviving their moments.  Anyone can be in a place of leadership if you have money, connections, etc.,  Not anyone can lead like those men did - they had deep deep character. 

There are many other leaders like Churchill and Lincoln - and even if they don’t have a moment that history demands of them - they are fine.  Because they have depth within themselves see life and people for what they are and wherever they are they make a difference. 

History is also filled with moments - even recent history - when a moment came, it called for a BIG L leader like Churchill or Lincoln - and they weren’t present - and we are paying the price for that daily.  Leadership isn’t just making the right decision and moving in the right direction - it’s based on the integrity, character, courage, and maturity of the one setting it. 

Those things that have come under the most scrutiny and criticism in my life - have always been those things that made the biggest difference.  It has never been a question of what is the right thing to do - it has been a question of, am I strong enough to handle the challenge that will come from this. 

God grant us courage, wisdom, insight, stamina, understanding, vision to move forward in all things you call us to.  Fill us with your Spirit so that we will not fear, falter, or retreat.  Keep the vision of Your Son before us, his life and our call.  Only then a symbol of suffering like the cross become a thing of beauty as a divine piece of jewlery that people wear with meaning.