Chaplain’s Corner

Leadership

Looking at Australia right now, during an election campaign, or looking at world events, with the worsening situation in Ukraine, political tensions with other countries, COVID, petrol prices fluctuating, supply issues around the world, actors slapping comedians and moral compasses becoming more and more blurred, I think there is one thing we would all agree that we need in this world – good leadership. 

We need leaders with a good moral compass, with backbone, wisdom, and good work ethic – who are in it for the long haul not just a photo opportunity. According to leadership guru John Maxwell, everything rises and falls on leadership. You have the ability and the opportunity to choose who you are led by and who you allow to influence you. You can choose who you lead, or if you will lead at all. You can choose how you lead yourself. Even if you don’t consider yourself a leader, or have the attributes or qualities of a leader, you are still leading at least one person … you!

No one leader has ever been born. Babies are born, not leaders. Winston Churchill was not born with the ability to write and speak so passionately and motivationally to help win World War II. Leaders are made and developed. Some are made through seizing opportunity, others are made by working hard, others are made by learning what makes a good leader and then applying it.

The key is you can learn how to be a leader. You can seize opportunities to lead. It might be to become a Home Group Captain, or school leader, it might be to lead your own family as a dad or a mum. For you it might be to become a manager or owner of your own business, maybe to get involved in local politics, or be a youth or church leader. In the here and now it might look like being a positive influence on your friends, helping them to avoid troubles and guiding them towards positive experiences. It might be volunteering to help others out or pursuing a cause.

A great example of someone leading themselves is Noah. Noah was chosen to save humanity via the ark because he was seen as the only one, in a world that had lost its way and was doing wrong, to be found true, honest, God honouring. He was not swayed by the influence of others. He took the mocking in his stride, built something that no one thought could be built, or should be built, and lead his family safely into the new world.

Moses, another great leader, led the Israelites out of captivity. Standing up for his people against all odds, against an army bigger and stronger, led his people, even though he considered himself to be a very poor public speaker! Leadership isn’t about having a stage or a microphone. When the moment came, Moses was willing to stand up for what was right and he stood up and led. He used the gifts and talents of others to cover his weaknesses and stick to his unique strengths.

Daniel, one of my favourites, showed incredible resolve. As he grew in influence and power, a jealous politician sought to have him trapped, by passing a law that made prayer illegal. He knew how important prayer was to Daniel. But Daniel refused to give up, he continued to pray despite the consequences and was thrown into a pit of lions for it. Yet, in the morning, he was discovered to be still alive. His faith that had made him into the man he was and had made him successful in the first place, saw him through the den of lions and then awarded even more influence, responsibility, and trust. 

Every single day, you have a choice. To be the influencer or to be influenced. To be led or to lead. 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

God bless,

Ps Matt Daly

Chaplain