Nelson Mandela’s death made a huge splash in newspaper headlines ... and it went on for days. Truly here was the death of a recognised leader par-excellence, possibly unmatched in today’s world. I began to reflect ..
Some ‘leaders’ are good managers: they have practical sense, people skills and the ability to get excellent team results. But there is a huge difference between true ‘leadership’ and ‘management’.
True leadership is about example and integrity, living a vision and being passionate about it, and even if unknowingly, imparting it to others; it is choosing to live outside one’s restricted circle and exist for a wider one.
Leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Ghandi and Martin Luther King lived what they taught and managed to affect the conscience of a nation, indeed of the world. Their vision was imbedded in a sense of justice and their own personal lives were deeply caught up in it. They loved their people and each in turn was a ‘father’ to them.
They were leaders not just by the fact they spearheaded movements; they were leaders by virtue of what they were.
God calls for leaders; I’m not talking about those who’ve been to theological college or leaders’ training events. They’re not even people who aim to be leaders; they’re leaders because they live a vision and their words and actions match; they lead because their ambition is to love the things God loves with passion.
The world is short of great known leaders; it’s short of great-unknown leaders too; the latter can be old, young, male or female and come from any strata of society; they may not make newspaper headlines when they die but those around will have been deeply affected by their lives.
Sometime ago now I studied Theology at Birmingham University. In my youthful zeal I wanted to know God and understand His Word. Little did I know that, for some of my contemporaries, such study would lead up a path of reasoning, doubt and loss of faith (a tragedy).
Reading the Bible with Michael (not his real name) is one of my life’s most pleasurable experiences. He loves reading the Bible and each week he comes to the Jesus Centre with a chosen chapter for us to read together. Well, today he chose 2 Timothy 3 – not an easy chapter and full of long words which he struggles to read. But, with a lot of prompting, we get through about half the chapter.
Michael has a general learning difficulty but that does not mean he is dull or clueless about spiritual things – rather the opposite! Individual words carry great power and meaning for him and he will pick out a word like ‘repent’ and say it slowly and then, with a twinkle and faraway look in his eyes (like he is glimpsing an unseen world) tells me what a wonderful word it is. And wonder is the word for the invisible realms are a great reality to him and he truly ‘wonders’ when he thinks on these things.
This joy and wonderment is catching. I find myself getting excited too, and I catch myself saying things like, ‘isn’t that just wonderful, Michael!'
No wonder Jesus rejoiced, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Luke 10:21)
We need more people like Michael! I can learn as much about God from him as any professor of Theology!
Recently I asked myself what the Bible has to say about people with learning difficulties. At first I thought it had nothing to say but a closer look proved me wrong. For a start, if I took a pair of scissors and cut out from my New Testament every encounter Jesus had with a disabled person, there would be some very large gaps!
Jesus told us not to just love people like ourselves, people we get on with, merely fostering mutual relationships we can both benefit from. He instructed us to reach out to people who are not like us, who cannot repay us either materially or on a personal level. We are to reach out to the poor, the homeless, the disabled, people we may not always feel comfortable and I’m sure this includes people with learning difficulties.
Jesus said we would be blessed by this criss-crossing of like/unlike relationships. Now, that word ‘blessed’ is a fat, fat word, bursting with meaning. We will be drunk with God’s favour; our souls, the fibre of our beings, will be greatly enriched by our generosity. We will become full, satisfied, as we find ourselves receiving His goodness into ourselves. We are drinking and eating kingdom plenty. The repayment is now – and in eternity.
This cross-communication in our relationships, like to unlike, chalk to cheese, is one of the great geniuses of the kingdom of God; love without a price tag.
And I feel blessed, utterly blessed through my weekly encounters with Michael. But didn’t Jesus say I would be?
Thank God for my humble professor.
