Dear Trekker,
Have you ever had a thought or gripping encounter that just wouldn’t go away? Surely you have… we all have. A recent sermon in our little chapel on All Saints Sunday was the seed bed. All this month I simply cannot shake the thoughts and conviction engendered there.
So often it is a familiar story with sudden new meaning. I guess when you are committed to viewing all of life relationally, one sees the beauty of relationships in everything. It is the story of Zacchaeus (Read Luke 9:1-9). But more… it is the attitude of Jesus that struck me as never before.
It has been said, “Attitude is everything in life.” Trekker, there is a lot of truth in that statement. Attitude affects our responses, our thoughts, our actions. For sure it affects our view of and impact upon people. The principle… in life and leadership, is it what others should and can do for me, or is it the converse, what I can do for others?
I am indeed grateful for my many years of military experience. I learned much. It is helpful to view military leadership through a two-fold prism of mission accomplishment and looking out for/taking care of soldiers. These two everyday missions define responsibility and exercise of authority in military service. At times they seem to be at cross purposes. Mission accomplishment seems often to trump the welfare of troops which can lead to misuse or abuse of authority and the disintegration of otherwise competent leadership. “Rank has its privilege”, but should be seldom exercised. “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all! When the time came, he set aside the privilege of the deity and took on the status of a slave and became human.” (The Message, Philippines 2)
What a lesson in the relational nuances of superior leadership is the story of Zacchaeus! We see how human and matter-of-fact Jesus was. His leadership was so subtle but led immeasurably to his effectiveness. His mission (to usher in the Kingdom of God by teaching truth as a rabbi and then dying to fulfill it) didn’t supercede his love for and interest in people, but included others, always. As I have mediated on the life style leadership of Jesus, he seemed never to be so preoccupied he didn’t have time for people… to notice them, encourage them, challenge them in some way and then add them to his team of followers. For the leader who has the attitude of Christ, anyone we meet may be a Zacchaeus. (Yes, trekker, there are some scumbags on the way to being saints who will turn the world upside down, even today as in the first century, if we reach out to them.) Is our attitude one of inclusion? Are we even aware of the God potential in the hoi polloi of everyday… or are we so fixated on our position, plans, program or performance that others are simply stepping stones to get us to the top of some heap? From a leadership vantage point, what an ever present opportunity is afforded to us constantly, to notice, listen and bring hope and encouragement to all we meet.
As Zacchaeus was, so are many… curious to see the rich and famous… and going out on a limb to do so. And as Jesus was the leader of men, so we in Christ should see ourselves in leadership, each a unique Jesus with skin on. Notice… Jesus was out on a morning stroll through Jericho, intentionally going up to Jerusalem… aware always of who he was, where he had been and where he was going. (Trekker, this threefold template for leadership confidence from John 13:3 is something to remember.) Yet… he stopped, noticed Zacchaeus, called him by name, (don’t we all live to be noticed and called by name) and desired to “hang out” with the guy that very day. What a leader is Jesus, leading by example, taking the opportunity to bring hope and change to an otherwise insignificant life… simply by noticing Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus responded immediately and was overcome by his inclusion in the Master’s plans. As far as we know, he was never the same again.
People respond to the leadership of others when noticed and recognized and discover they are significant to the leader. Will we ever learn… people desire to be a part of a team… we must find them, recruit and train them and place them squarely in the action. Zacchaeus, the “scumbag”, became a “saint”, and so is the possibility always before us, if we are not too locked in to pre-determined, self-made plans. (Some often will misunderstand as onlookers criticized Jesus in the story.) Attitude will pay huge dividends for us if we see daily encounters as an opportunity to see changed lives!
Caution … while strolling, watch out for misdirected, holy zeal for Jesus. The Great Commission is often seen as a command to “Go” and make disciples, and nothing should get in our way! Knowledge of the Greek language here is helpful… a better rendering of Matthew 28:19 is “in the process of going about your daily routines”, make disciples, etc. The command is to “make disciples”, not “to go”, a nuanced, but key distinction.
Leaders of all stripes and stars must love people, care about them, provide and protect them, include them, listen to them… treat them as human beings, not humans doing our bidding. This is a hard lesson to learn. The request of James and John comes to mind. They wanted status and privilege in the coming Kingdom. They, poor fellows, didn’t have a clue. Leadership had to be explained to them… not basking in self-focused glory, but selfless service to others. (Read Mark 10:35-45 to get a handle on true leadership and our role in it.)
Trekker, we all often have Zacchaeus- like opportunities to stop, look up or down, see the one “farthest out”, and make him (or her) know he is important to himself and others. Never be too busy to stop, smile and submit self to others. What an aspect of leadership! As one of my mentors used to say, “There are no little people.” The world of people, curious and canvassing every hope and dream for change, are waiting to be discovered and led into the Good News!
Let’s discover, show and tell them.
Your trekker friend,
Jim Meredith
