Servant leadership

No one can deny that Jesus was a leader, but how did he lead? Not by bossing people around and looking to exercise his authority over people. He led by taking care of the people who came to him. I think that any great leader is one who has the welfare of the people at heart.

This is servant leadership, the kind of leadership we exercise as we give of ourself to others. On a service experience one summer in Jamaica, I was very much struck by the joy of many of the poor people I worked with. I realized that I could not change their situation, but my purpose was simply to share a bit of their life with them, to share my faith with them, to let them know that I valued them by giving them my time.

Reflecting on my experience, I felt a human connection, the realization that we’re more alike than different. The main differences between us were material poverty a lack of resources and opportunities for advancement. As human beings we were pretty much the same. They taught me the important lesson that we are all one.

During this Holy Week, when we remember the final events of Jesus’ life on earth, let’s reflect on the example of servant leadership Jesus gave us and make that a part of the way we live. I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and a very Happy and Blessed Easter!