My Reflection: ARE YOU A SERVANT-LEADER? It is fashionable, nowadays, to speak or hear about Servant-Leaders. At first sight, this term sounds contradictory, for, in the common estimation, SERVANTS ARE NOT LEADERS AND LEADERS ARE NOT SERVANTS. But the proponents of this new term maintain that it need not be so. Actually, they say, A REAL LEADER SHOULD BE A SERVANT, in the sense that he / she should use his / her authority to offer to others the SERVICE they need. Understood this way, the term SERVANT-LEADER reveals a concept of leadership and authority that is absolutely revolutionary. For thousands of years, in fact, a LEADER (whether he was a warrior, or a king) was associated with the ideas of domination, subjugation and imposition. A LEADER was the absolute BOSS who imposed his will on his subjects, demanding their service, their money and even their lives, particularly in war times. The SERVANTS were just that - individuals born to serve in all HUMILITY and LOYALTY, all the days of their lives. And if any servants or slave ever dared to upset that universal social structure (as the slave Spartacus did when he led the revolt of the slaves against their Roman masters), terrible punishment awaited them. But one day a man appeared in Palestine who, by all stands, proved to be a powerful leader. So powerful was he, in fact, that even the demons obeyed him without discussion. Thousands crowded around him, not herded by bullying troops, but simple attracted by the power of his words and his deeds. He spoke of a Kingdom where mourning and oppression are no more and where all the greatest aspirations of the human heart are fulfilled. All marveled at the sight of the wonders he worked, as he restored the sight to blind people, made the dumb to speak, the cripples to walk, and even the dead to rise........ His name was JESUS - Jesus of Nazareth, the Prophet - so his admirers identified him. It is by having Jesus Christ in mind that modern theorists have created the term servant-leader. Of course, even after Jesus, many leaders continued to be LEADER-BOSSES who exploited, oppressed, and even sent their servants to death. Likewise, many individuals continued to be servant-bossed who only thought of themselves as poor guys who have to do what they are told to do, and who lived and died without a proper awareness of their dignity and their rights. And so, in our time, the relatively new term of servant-leader is used to indicate someone who has both leadership and spirit of service. It is attributed to people in a position of authority who consider their role as an opportunity to render a service to others. S - sincere - no double talks, no dissimulation, no cheating. A real servant-leader says what he / she means and means what he / she says...... E - enthusiastic - he / she believes in and feels strongly about what he / she is doing. R - resilient - even after a setback or a defeat, a servant leader never gives up. V - value-oriented - a servant-leaders action aim at upholding and promoting values. A - alert - a person who is in touch with reality, knows the problems of his / her time / society. N - noble - that nobility of heart that is not tied to pedigree, but which shows itself in rejecting and avoiding all meaness and any form of moral misery. T - thoughtful - a servant-leader is attentive to the needs and sensitivity of others, especially those entrusted to his / her care..... L - loving - a servant-leader seeks the good / happiness of others in ways that are full of sincere concern and generous commitment. Love is his / her greatest value. E - enterprising - creativity, resourcefulness, and courage characterize a real servant-leader. A - appealing - he / she conquers the heart of people through his / her ways and the loftiness of his / her ideals and plans. D - dignified - a servant-leader is always aware of his / her dignity as a human being and a child of God and acknowledges concretely the same dignity in all others. He / she never vulgar in his / her speech; never slavish in rendering a service. E - emphatic - he / she knows how to emphatize and identify with others, especially those who are suffering, feel rejected or oppressed in any way...... R - respectful - a servant-leader is never overbearing or intolerant. He / she respects even those who hold different views, as well as the rights and dignity of all, regardless of their social, economic, or educational status........ Naparito ako hindi para paglingkuran kundi ang maglingkod. Anuman ang ating kakayahan, propesyon o katayuan ang paglilingkod ay isang pananagutan. Huwag nating alalahanin kung sino tayo para sa iba kundi sino ang ibang tao para sa atin. Sa paglilingkod nakikilala ang tunay na alagad ni Kristo. Ito ang Pananampalatayang Aktibo. amh
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:32:02 +0000