Matt's Muzings
Leadership and Vulnerability
What is leadership about?
I am so often tempted to think that leadership is about power, position, being right, the ability to get things done and putting my strengths together and then using them to accomplish things.
I have been reminded at this time of the year that this is not always the case. For the greatest act of leadership and influence was not done through strength and power, but through weakness and humility. I am thinking of Jesus.
Vulnerability
He emptied himself, took on real weakness and became vulnerable in order to reach out to us. He became a baby and (in a very real sense) made himself dependent on us. He didn't have to, but that is what love does. Love becomes vulnerable, it says my happiness is linked to you.
If the Leader of the universe,
The Almighty God who holds each star in place and calls each one by name,
The One who was so sacred that you didn't dare mention His name,
The God that came down on a mountain to speak with Israel and fire rose up to heaven and the mountain quaked,
The God that is a consuming fire,
The One that the kings of the earth and the great men and commanders and the rich and strong will hide from and call out to the mountains and say "Fall on us and hide us from the presence HimŠ" (Rev. 6: 16)
If He in His leadership, took on weakness and became vulnerable, it is because it is a vital part of all leadership. We are to model Him in our leadership.
Would you look for ways to express your vulnerability to others in reaching out to them and humbling yourself? In the end leadership is not about power, it is about love.
Our weakness opens the door for Him to work through us. When we are weak, then He is strong. Tell those you are serving that you love them and need them.