Leading The Way

Dave Brisbin 7.19.20 I was asked to talk about leadership last week, and I took a deep breath before responding because I realized what a loaded topic it was and how the request itself was coming from a profound disappointment in our current political leadership. I think I said I’d think about it, but the more I did, the more it seemed like it needed to be discussed. What makes a great leader? When I really considered it, analyzed the leaders I admire most, laid their qualities against the leadership exemplified by Jesus, I shouldn’t have been surprised that the qualities that make a great leader are the same that make a great person. When you think on it, we’re all leaders in one way or another, but no matter how small or large the scope of our leadership, the principles remain the same. What was it about our greatest presidents, like Washington and Lincoln, leaders like MLK, Gandhi, and Churchill that is common and points to great ability to lead. It’s easy to criticize the leadership we see or don’t see around us, especially now when our leaders appear oblivious or outmatched by the issues we face. But as with everything else that matters, the search for great leadership starts within us—that’s Jesus 101. In our search for great leaders, we need to look for those qualities within ourselves first, because though we may not find them on the national or world stage, it’s only if we can’t find them within that we are truly lost.