Crisis of Leadership

 I’ve noticed that there are lots of men with beards these days; but few of them are philosophers. 

It’s an unusual epoch. On the one hand technological marvels are rolled out thick and fast, whilst self- knowledge and the search for true meaning and purpose in life seems to be regarded as trivial or at best a relic of a darkened age. 

Padre Pio gave this advice to a family with young children: - ‘Take care, not so much of their scientific as of their moral education... As you educate their minds with good studies, assure the education of their hearts, along with that of our holy religion; one without the other causes a mortal wound to the human heart.’ 

This would certainly seem to sum-up the current situation in many nations, reflected in their choice of leaders whose behaviour or attitude mirrors their own. Can anyone identify even one good world leader in our day? A real leader looks at the role as sacrificial; it is to love and care more for those you serve than for yourself. That is the depth of character which enables one to die for his people. 

An Arab leader born at the turn of the last century gives a good example of this: Auda Abu Tayi, was always found in the heart of battle with his men, permanently poor as his generosity and hospitality were legendary. He was described as a ‘river to his people’ which in the desert means life–giving. 

A more familiar example would be Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer and exemplary leader whose expeditions all failed in their original objectives but whose men would follow him anywhere because they knew he would get them through. He gave his last biscuit to one of his men when they were both on the verge of starvation, and his mittens to another despite the certainty of frost bite. 

We have lost the way. Western leaders preach a gospel of selfishness and nationalism while the leaders of the developing world cling to power long enough to fill their pockets and make a run for it and the Arab states, confused and frustrated, turn to Islamic fundamentalism. Meanwhile the Chinese embark on a quiet invasion of the world, enslaving nations through the propagation of debt which cannot be paid. 

It’s only the education of the heart, the growth in the Spirit, grounded in the Christian faith, which enables us to love and sacrifice for others. This can draw out true leadership, strength and goodness in our societies.

Shackleton

The Pilgrim Road

The other day I had a test-drive in a lazy-boy chair; the soft leather aroma filled the air as my bones sunk into the sumptuous foam. It raises your legs as it reclines, and has an array of remote controls:-like Captain Kirk’s chair on the bridge of the Star Ship Enterprise. Unfortunately for the salesman, I suddenly remembered Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men fighting for survival in the Antarctic ice floes a century ago and called to mind a Japanese saying that “luxury is a menace to authentic manhood”.

The current generation of men seem bent on making life soft, convenient, safe and comfortable. Philosophies akin to the American dream point to an earthly paradise and rest after labour with the unspoken suggestion that a cure for sickness, old age and death can’t be far away now. Life’s meaning has become focussed on success, wealth and ease and the avoidance of all woes and challenges. Any obstacle or adversity or departure from the carefully crafted comfort zone is met with horror and ultimately disappointment. 

As a pilgrim people passing through life on the journey to our ultimate goal and destination, we have the opportunity to achieve a different kind of success. I read an insight that changed my thinking about my own trials and sufferings; that the difficulties we encounter are really a way that God initiates us into an authentic Christian manhood. He wants to see us reach our full stature as men and as sons and so will put us through whatever is necessary to achieve that. Even those things which happen to us, which can only be regarded as evil, can be transformed by grace (and time) and become our glory; “We know that all things work for good for those who love God”(Rom 8:28) We can resist this process or embrace it; but it will be lighter if difficulties are accepted as if from God’s hand because then we can prayerfully work through them in partnership.

Viewed from this perspective, and looking back on my own life, from childhood to the present, I can see how my heavenly Father led me through different challenges, trials and adventures; many I rather enjoyed, others are filed under ‘hideous abominations’ but in either case I grew through them, learned and relearned lessons, was hurt and healed and taken together it’s the hardships that form our characters the most. In time they are remembered fondly because of the fruit they bore and ultimately this toil is part of heaven’s price, and as we endure to the end our thrones await us!