As an Asian who grew up in a previous era, it seems to me there is something about a father’s approval that determines personal significance and strengthens confidence. I remember that my father was emotionally remote. I never saw him express feelings of intimacy towards my mother, which sometimes made me wonder how I came about! I only knew I desperately craved his approval. A pat on the back from him, a word of encouragement or a voice of approval was all I needed to make me feel significant and give me strength to face challenges. I felt like I always had to prove my worth to him, but nothing I did was ever enough.

The only time I ever topped my class in school was when I was 15 years old. Proud of my achievement, I handed my grade card to my dad for his signature and endorsement. He looked at my grades, pondered for what seemed like an eternity, then turned to me, “Son, what is the maximum possible?” Incredulously I replied, “100%.” “Then why is your mathematics score only 96%?” It did not matter to him that nobody else in my year at my school had better grades than I. He only saw that I did not have a perfect score! Somehow I suspect that episode has something to do with my loss of interest in mathematics, resulting in my inability to count beyond my fingers and toes today!

In the 21 years of life with my dad, there was only one time I saw him drunk. And, that was soon after my brief flirt with scholastic achievement. My dad was not violent when drunk; only loudly loquacious. His ramblings woke me up from bed in time to hear him brag how proud he was of his son. It took a while for that confession to get past my drowsy fog to realize that my dad had only one son, and he was talking about me! That was the approval I so desperately needed to feel I was good enough for the most significant person in my life. When he expressed his pride in me, I felt I was finally accepted and that I belonged. Nothing could demean or belittle me again. Any confidence that I was able to shore up to face the formidable challenges in life could be attributed to that defining moment in my life. Maybe that is why it is permanently etched in my memory.

Every person needs to know that he or she is needed, and will be missed when absent. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the World War II general who became President of the United States, in At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends, asserts that “the world could be fixed of its problems if every child understood the necessity of their existence.”¹ If we recognize that our family could not go on without us, we would be imbued with a sense of personal worth and destiny. We would be less insecure in our relationships and less misunderstanding would happen in our communication. However, if a child grows up feeling he does not count, or that the family is better off without him, he is more inclined to resort to aggressive means to demand attention and win approval or respect.

Donald Miller, the celebrated author, in a vulnerable volume, To Own A Dragon: Reflections On Growing Up Without A Father, intimates that “for whatever reason, [my father] took a look at me and split… And that has made me feel, at times, there is this detestable person living within my skin who makes people feel as though they must carry me on their backs… I realized I was operating out of a feeling of inferiority. Deep inside, I believed life was for other people – that joy was for others, and responsibility was for others… In life, there were people who were meant to live and people who were accidentally born, elected to plod the globe as the despised.”²

These insecurities are at the gut level. We can be educated enough to think these are illogical feelings, or we can attain success in our vocations and command respect and admiration from our social circles, but logical arguments cannot persuade or change the heart. Knowledge does not make us feel any more secure. Belonging has to be experienced, and that deep understanding will be echoed through our entire being, format our brain and inform our behavior. More often than not, that experience of acceptance that gives rise to a personal sense of worth is what only a father can give.

Fortunately, it does not mean that if our biological father messed it up for us, we can never experience wholeness and find emotional fortitude. The benchmark for fatherhood is God Himself. If we are fortunate enough to have good fathers, Jesus reminds us, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Mt 7:11). The best of fathers are a pale shadow of who God is as Father. There is an exponentially “how-much-more” factor when we compare our dad to God. At the same time, those of us scarred with debilitating handicaps because of our earthly fathers can take comfort in God the Father, who is radically different than our dad. God loves to be acknowledged as our Father, either one who is “how-much-more” or “radically different” than our earthly father. After all, Jesus taught us to address God in our prayers as “Our Father in heaven” (Mt 6:9).

God invites us to an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus instructs, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father” (Mt 6:6). That is a clue that the Father wishes to interact with His children in privacy behind closed doors. That is where He tells us we are doubly His – by creation and redemption; that we do not need to earn His love; that He watches over us closely. Only this Father-child talk can give us a sense of place and destiny, of worth and significance, of acceptance and belonging. After all, it is the Father’s ultimate commendation we all long for at the end of our earthly sojourn, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Mt 25:21).

So, let’s not negate dad’s critical role or neuter God. There are some things only a father can give. To all dads, biological or spiritual, Happy Father’s Day!

References:
1. Eisenhower, Dwight D. At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends. Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1967.
2. Miller, Donald and MacMurray, John. To Own A Dragon: Reflections On Growing Up Without A Father. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2006.

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.

The Gospel writer paints a profile of joy in the three classic stories in Luke 15. Addressing the company of tax collectors and “sinners” who had gathered to hear Him, as well as the religious leaders who were muttering under their breath that He “welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Lk 15:2), Jesus described His Kingdom as a Great Party.

In the first story, when the shepherd found his lost sheep, “he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep’” (Lk 15:5-7, emphasis mine). The point of the story, Jesus stressed, is that “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Lk 15:10). It is contagious joy where the shepherd’s exhilaration is shared by the angelic hosts.

In the same way, when the woman in the second story found her lost coin, “she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin’” (Lk 15:9, emphasis mine). The reiterated purpose of the story is that “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” It is the resounding of multiplied joy! The sense is irrepressible, spontaneous, delirious joy. One person embraced into God’s family can bring about side-splitting, belly-aching guffaws among holy cherubim!

The stories build to a climax when the ultimate return of the prodigal made his father so joyful he exclaimed, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate!” (Lk 15:23). A boisterous celebration that called for music and dancing that could be heard “a long way off,” the fattened calf that was reserved for a worthy gala, and the involvement of the whole village. A fiesta that rocked in wild abandon! I cannot remember when the Church of God reflected the Kingdom of God in this manner!

Imagine the prodigal surprised by joy on his return home. He came back with a prepared and rehearsed speech, sincere in his intention to earn his place among his father’s servants. His consciousness was stung by the pain of loss, the humiliation of rejection, the stench of pig slop, and the indignity of the invisible who fall through the cracks of society. The party the prodigal’s father threw for him established his worth that his shame sought to rob from him. But restoration was possible only when his guilt was forgiven. There is exuberant joy only when the offense is pardoned. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “You must be made miserable before you can know true Christian joy… the real trouble with the miserable Christian is that he has never truly been made miserable because of conviction of sin. He has bypassed the essential preliminary to joy; he has been assuming something he has no right to assume.”

In most cultures, it is common to celebrate a joyous occasion with a meal. For the Jews, an invitation to a meal is an invitation to intimacy. Strict Jews do not eat with strangers, enemies, or pagans. It is significant that the Asian dinner table is round; so the invitation is to come into the circle of family or friends. When a member of the family is deceased, their place at the table is kept for at least a hundred days to indicate that his/her place in the hearts of family members is secure. A party is a sensible way to express joy because it is an invitation to the heart of the host. When we cannot share the joy of the party, we are not in sympathy with the host.

The more rambunctious the party is, the louder the declaration of hope. When one sheep is found, a celebration is called for to acknowledge there is a shepherd who is always searching for a lost sheep. There is joy in knowing that whenever a coin is lost, there is an owner relentlessly looking for that coin. That calls for a celebration of hope. It calls for the most earth shaking party to declare that when a child is rebelling or lost in wanton waste, there is a Father who is waiting and pleading, ready to embrace a returning child.

We need every reminder that God is present and active. Especially when the days are dark and the nights are long, or when the void aches so painfully. When the doors are all slammed shut, when the fig tree does not bud, when there are no grapes on the vine, when the olive crop fails, when the fields produce no food, when there are no cattle in the stall, we need a clarion call that God is in control and He is not absent! That’s what joyous parties do – they declare the hope that God is in the midst of our pain, actively restoring, redeeming, and reconciling.

No wonder the angels rejoice. They are merely reflecting the father’s heart when he said, “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Lk 15:32, emphasis mine). William Barclay notes that “a gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than its connection with black clothes and long faces!”

We may need to stay away from the religious party-poopers to experience joy. Why, they even gave Jesus a hard time, accusing him of dining with sinners! There will always be those who pride themselves in their ascetic religiosity, deeply serious spirituality, who take themselves too seriously. But, out on the margins, where the “sinners” are, the reasons for joyous parties are more obvious. There, the deep transforming work of God is unmistakable, inexplicable, and unavoidable, escaping neat cognitive categories and demanding spontaneously joyful and wild celebration. Let’s pray that those who return to the Father, the reason for joyful parties, will not meet the older brother before they meet the cackling angels!

References:
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Spiritual Depression – Its Causes and Its Cures. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965.

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced unless otherwise stated.

However, there is another response, just as necessary and critical as action that is frequently neglected. Jesus says we “should always pray and not give up.” ² He illustrates with the triple-whammy story of a widow who is a victim of injustice and has to contend with an unjust judge. In the days of Jesus, a woman is defined only in relation to her husband. If he dies, she loses not only her spouse, but also financial support and social significance as well. A widow has little standing in society and before the law. In such a society, the dowry system becomes an important safeguard. The dowry, which is provided by the bride’s father, always accompanies a woman to her marriage. If her husband dies, she can remain in her deceased husband’s home if she has a son, who now cares for her. Otherwise, she would return to her parents, taking her dowry back to her family.³

In His story, Jesus does not describe the injustice that afflicts the widow. Apparently, she has been perversely dispossessed by a supposedly wicked opponent who probably knows the poor widow has no recourse to redress. Her predicament is bad enough for her to go to a judge in a court of law. Not only does she not have a good standing before the law as a widow, she pleads her case before one of the infamously corrupt judges common in those days! She relentlessly badgers him, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” We are told this judge “neither feared God nor cared about men.” Our moral benchmarks come either from divine authority or cultural norms. Jesus’ comment on the judge hints that the official does not bend to divine authority nor does he care about cultural moral standards. He dispenses justice that suits himself!

Jesus seems to be describing the wrangling helplessness of those who suffer from injustice. The Wisdom writer observes, “I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were crying, and no one would help them… The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. I envy those who are dead and gone; they are better off than those who are still alive.” ⁴ Despair and meaninglessness ooze from the grindstone of injustice and oppression. Small wonder the Middle Eastern sage concludes that life is a chasing after the wind!

In the most deplorable and unjust situations, Jesus says that we “should pray and not give up.” Where we have no power to right the injustice or overturn the oppression, we should seek the face of God. Activists seek to right the wrongs in society by protesting, advocating for the victims or inciting a revolution. We frequently neglect the most powerful response open to us, which is to pray to the righteous and merciful God. We mistakenly perceive prayer to be too passive a response in the face of situations that are too critical and urgent. By neglecting the means of supplication we forfeit the succor of our Creator who alone has the power to change hearts and history. The Jewish writer is perceptive when he says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” ⁵ If there is any who can change the hearts of those powerful enough to alleviate human misery then He must be God.

In His parable, Jesus uses a “how much more” argument to urge us to pray. The judge in the story is corrupt; but God is righteous. The judge is not concerned about justice, acting only in self interest; but God cares for the weak and powerless. The judge responds only when the supplicant wears him out with persistent and irritating impositions; God’s ears are inclined to the pleas of His people. God is not like the unjust judge; how much more then should we intercede for those who are denied justice. We have the assurance from Jesus, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

As long as the human heart remains depraved, there will be oppression and injustice. You and I are not exempt from the destructive powers of evil in our hearts. We are victims and perpetrators at the same time, as there are those who wield power over us and there are those whose well being are determined by our decisions. While we pray for justice, we need to be prepared for God to also work in our own hearts. God answers our prayers according to our readiness for His work of deliverance; and it frequently begins in our hearts.

Injustice will only be eradicated when God is present. Only in His presence is there fullness of joy.⁶ But God’s presence can only be welcomed when there is faith. So Jesus asks at the close of His parable, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” In the most deplorable human conditions, where oppression tramples on human dignity and injustice robs humanity of respect and esteem, the most potent response is to pray. When we express faith in prayer, we welcome God’s presence. And, when God comes to us, the light of His presence dispels all darkness. In the most hopeless situation, Jesus urges us to “always pray and not give up”; a neglected but most necessary response.

References:
1. The movement can be accessed at www.theamberinitiative.com
2. Luke 18:1. The story that follows is found in Luke 18:2-8
3. Winter, Bruce W. Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994.
4. Ecclesiastes 4:1-2 (Good News Bible & New Living Translation)
5. Proverbs 21:1
6. Psalm 16:11

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced unless otherwise stated.

Not being committed in a marital relationship should not deprive anyone from enjoying life to the hilt or from meaningful relationships. Our hearts should be filled with joy when we are engaged in life affirming friendships. Our existence should be imbued with purpose and meaning when our lives intersect with others. Fulfillment comes to us when we do not revolve around ourselves, and when we are able to give ourselves to others, to meeting others’ needs and making life worth the living for them.

We can cultivate an attractive personality and nurture a generous spirit that others will be drawn to. We have to look inside our souls to begin the transformation. Christian Dior once said there is no such thing as an ugly woman; there are only those who do not know how to make themselves attractive.

Cultivating Inner Beauty requires us to leverage on our innate strengths. All of us have handicaps – some visible, but mostly invisible. If we focus on our weaknesses, we will be defined by them. Nobody wants to be engaged in a social exchange with us if all we can offer are our liabilities. Even the most marginalized among us will have positive attributes we can bring to enrich others. If we are made in the image of our Creator, then even the most marred visage will bear redemptive features of our Maker. If we listen to the voice in our heads echoing imagined societal rejection, we would always think we are not good enough, or handsome/pretty enough, or smart enough. We would shrivel when we are in the company of others, and not be able to hone our abilities or allow our charisma to emanate. Instead we should pursue our interests in a focused way, so we will always have a conversation topic and we will probably be more enthusiastic on the subject, thus exuding a passion that can be appealing.

It is important to relax when we are interacting with others, to be naturally interested in others rather than be self-absorbed. There is no need to be anxious about being interesting or outstanding in social gatherings. Being overly self conscious is a turn-off. It is frequently mistaken for being arrogant and aloof. But to be genuinely interested in others, to find points of identification in their lives is to invite others into your heart. To be able to respect others, sincerely desiring to learn something from others’ experience is to accord them esteem. And, the rule of thumb is, respect begets respect.

Expanding Our Capacity For Feelings helps us adapt to different social situations. It enables us to accept diversity in our interactions, keeps our hearts and minds open, not making assumptions or conclusions about people who are different from us. G.K. Chesterton once said, “The world will not starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.” To wonder is to engage both the mind and the heart. The mind has to be open while the heart has to expand its capacity to be awed.

For too many of us, we approach new situations and people with a measure of caution and suspicion. We are not ready to trust or open our hearts. No one wants to be manipulated or misled. In so doing, we sieve out positive experiences as well. Men tend to be more impervious to feelings of warmth and acceptance. They delude themselves into thinking they are more rational when their capacity for feelings is narrow. Unless we expand our emotional range, we will never be swept by the sense of wonder, exhilaration and joyful surprise.

Not only must we expand our emotional capacity to receive but we must also put feet to feelings. In other words, we need to learn how to articulate positive feelings in appropriate, sincere, and affirming ways. It is selfish and boorish not to be spontaneous in expressing appreciation, gratitude, and affirmation when we have been recipients of grace and generosity. Honest gratitude springs from the depths of one’s heart. It goes beyond the mind to merely do the “politically or socially correct” thing; it has to come from the heart that is touched by thoughtful and gracious deeds.

The most winsome people I know have the ability to draw out what is deep in the hearts of the people they interact with. They are warm and inviting, making it evident there is room in their hearts for us. They give full attention when we are expressing ourselves, providing a safe sanctuary in their hearts for our wounded spirits, ready to toast to our success or enter into our delirious joy. Empathy is the precious gift of a heart that has the expanded capacity for the feelings of others.

Are there really such charmers in real life? Most of these swinging winners I know have experienced a grace so deep in their lives they are able to Hang their Hangups. Their invisible handicaps have to do with the cards they have been dealt in life. Like us, they cannot choose their looks or physical attributes. They did not choose their parents or families, or any of the pathologies that came with their family names. Some have deep regrets in their lives over wrong decisions, wrong company or downright unfortunate circumstances. But, they have drunk so deeply from the fountain of grace that their past is redeemed and the venom of anger, resentment, and bitterness is drained. Instead they choose to move on and not let their painful past or their fear of the future rob them of the present. They choose to live life to the full!

Grace does not only empty the poison, it fills up with love, hope, and joy. Contagious enthusiasm cannot run on an empty tank. It takes love to look beyond the pain, hope to go beyond the fears, and joy to overcome the disappointments in life. Only grace from God can bear the weight of life. Once experienced, one’s soul is uplifted until it gives way to outward expressions of rumbustious joy that is genuinely spontaneous, winsomely heartwarming, and alluringly gracious. Would such a swinging single not be attractive, or someone we would aspire to be?

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

References:
1 Department of Statistics, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Singapore. “Population in Brief: 2009.”

Challenges produce creative leaders as much as necessity is the mother of invention. When problems hem us in, leaders are forced to think of possibilities outside the box. When processes are multiplied in boring and ineffective repetitions, we start experimenting with better and more efficient ways of producing or living.

Some very lucky people stumble onto creative solutions in the debris of failures and mistakes. Roentagen was searching for the reason why his photographic plates were being ruined when he discovered radiation in the process. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M accidentally developed a “low tack,” reusable pressure sensitive adhesive while in search for super glue. This mistake was not well received by others for five years until a colleague, Art Fry, used the adhesive to bookmark his hymnbook. Discovering this effective use, 3M then marketed the adhesive, now known as “Post-it” pads to great success.

Some psychologists posit that early experiences predispose people to be interested in a certain range of problems. Physicists like Viktor Weisskopf, Max Planck, Werner Heisenbery, and Hans Bethe claim that what inspired them to seek to understand the movement of atoms and stars was the exhilaration they felt at the sight of mountains and the night sky. Curiosity is the indispensible ingredient for creativity. Its nature is not only intellectual but rooted in deep feelings borne out of experiences that require some resolution or a new way of understanding. This appears to point to curious people as the likely candidates for creative leadership.

A deep understanding of a domain is necessary if we want to transform it. It is not possible to be creative without learning what others know; yet creativity arises only when there is dissatisfaction with the knowledge. The Russian composer, Igor Stravinski, understood the fundamentals of classical music intimately, but moved dissonantly away from what was accepted to new and creative contours of music. When he debuted his now famous ballet score, The Rite of Spring in 1913, his dissonant, pulsating and unpredictable music was so offensive that his Parisian audience drowned out the orchestra with their hisses and heckles. Yet, Stravinski’s creative music inspired many twentieth century composers with his radical use of rhythm. Curiosity has to be coupled with discipline for any significant creative contributions to be made. Leaders I know to be creative are absorbed by a domain that they effortlessly navigate and re-interpret the fundamental blocks of the chosen discipline in insightful ways that create previously unthinkable new dimensions.

Howard Gardner, in his study of the major creative geniuses of the twentieth century indicates a proficiency in an ironic blend of convergent and divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is the rational ability at analysis and the cognitive agility to solve problems that have only one correct answer. Divergent thinking is the flexibility that throws up a range of possibilities to resolve a dilemma. It is a creative ability at perceiving unusual associations and to swirl around different perspectives to arrive at an ingenious solution. It is not surprising then, that many creative leaders tend to exude a mischievous playfulness that belies a disciplined and inquiring disposition.

Historically dark epochs, like wars, are the crucibles of creativity. Some have argued that the outstanding breakaways from classical literary, musical, and artistic styles in the twentieth century were an indirect reaction to the disillusionment people felt at the inability of Western civilization to avoid World War I. It is no coincidence that Einstein’s theory of relativity, Freud’s theory of the unconscious, Eliot’s free form poetry, Stravinski’s twelve-tone music, Martha Graham’s abstract choreography, Picasso’s deformed figures, James Joyce’s stream of consciousness prose were all created – and accepted by the public – in the same period in which empires collapsed and belief systems rejected old certainties. It is not surprising then that many creative leaders are tortured in their souls, seared in their memories and scarred in their experience.

Robert Sternberg asserts that creativity is a form of leadership that propels a field forward and influences others, hence his “propulsion model.” In his model, he identifies eight types of creative leaders:

Replicators are those who maintain the status quo. The larger proportion of leaders in human enterprises is in this category.
Redefiners are those who tweak and put a new spin on existing leadership or innovation. This is true in tightly controlled organizations, or in companies with a long history or tradition, where it is difficult to break out of entrenched molds.
Forward Incrementors move the organization further in the direction it was going. Software companies that release improved versions of their existing programs is a sterling example.
Advanced Forward Incrementors refer to those who push the envelope in a field, going further than others are ready to go. The earlier example of Stravinski’s music is a case in point.
Redirectors introduce new and more effective ways of achieving established goals. Henry Ford, in introducing the constant-motion assembly line to manufacture the Model T, is a classic example of a redirector.
Regressive Redirectors or Reconstructors reinvent a previously successful product like Coca Cola’s decision to revive Classic Coke or fashion designers going back to narrow neck ties for men.
Reinitiators who initiate a fresh start for an organization or field that has seen better days.
Synthesizers integrate best ideas from different industries to produce something that meets present needs. The electronic book is a great product that is gaining popularity. It assembles the best ideas from unrelated industries to create something new.

Every leader’s dream is to stimulate creativity in the organization so Gordian knots can be broken and problems resolved. Richard Woodman makes three proposals that leaders can implement to create an environment friendly to creativity. Firstly, he proposes that because “creative behavior… is an interaction of person and situation… norms supporting open sharing of information… (and) risk-taking behavior will enhance creativity… Creativity is reduced by rigid norms that create high conformity.”

Secondly, he suggests that leaders enlist as diverse a team as possible and build participative structures in the organization. He contends that homogenous composition, autocratic leadership and rigid structures tend to suppress creativity.

Finally, he proposes matrix, networking, collateral or parallel structures instead of bureaucratic or mechanistic systems to increase the probability of organizational creativity.

What seems to be the fundamental requirement in increasing the creative amperage in an organization is the wisdom to balance behaviors and motivations of stakeholders. Every leader needs to discern between diversity and self serving individualism, restrictive homogeneity and serving a common vision, corporate success or self promotion. What is most critically required in leadership that will enhance creativity in the organization is wisdom. There is no better place to secure this wisdom than to heed the Wisdom writer, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding…”(Ps 110:10) We can find the means to resolve the most intractable difficulties from the Original Creator who alone brings something out of nothing.

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.

References:
Chamberlin, Jamie. 2003. “Considering Creativity: Inspiring the Masses through Creative Leadership”. Monitor on Psychology Vol. 34, No. 10: 50.
Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
Gardner, Howard. Creating Minds. New York: BasicBooks, 1993.
Woodman, Richard W. 1995. “Managing Creativity.” In Creative Action in Organizations, ed. Cameron M. Ford and Dennis A. Gioia, 60-65.Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

When things go wrong, our instinctive reaction is fear. The late Princeton psychologist Hadley Cantril¹ pointed out that social panic occurs when large groups of people cannot discern reliable sources of advice from unreliable ones. The economic meltdown in the past months stirred a fear that rippled the world. As pundits gave contradictory opinions, our technological sophistication intensified our fears by enabling people to check on their investments every few minutes. And, when the anticipatory meets the retrospective, fear turns into panic. We become anticipatory when we think something terrible is going to happen. We sink into the retrospective when we regret that we did not act earlier. That is how swimmers who are pulled to sea by a rip current instinctively swim to shore against the current, and end up exhausting themselves and drowning. In bad times, only a clear voice of authority and assurance can calm nerves so we can respond appropriately and constructively.

The apostle Peter was writing to Christians scattered across Asia Minor who were living in perilous times. Their lives were threatened because of their faith. Christians were living in a society ignorant of God, which misunderstood believers and despised Christian practices. The apostle warns that the Devil “prowls around like a roaring lion.”² In such seasons of fear and confusion there was a need for leadership that was reliable. Peter writes, “I have a special concern for you church leaders…that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd.“³

Leaders with authority can be discerned by their behavior and motivation. Firstly, Peter indicates that trusted leaders are willing to serve; they are not compelled by others or circumstances: “Not because you have to, but because you want to please God.“⁴ Compulsion is a sign we are enslaved by the form but oblivious to the substance. Some leaders are compelled by a sense of duty. They perform their tasks grudgingly and their sulky demeanor does not inspire participation from others. Their faithfulness is held hostage by perfunctory obligation that is blind to purpose and meaning. Frequently, they do the least to comply with the minimum of requirements. They would never go “the extra mile” or give extended attention and care.

The only way to serve willingly is out of gratitude. Peter’s stance is from being a “witness of Christ’s sufferings.”⁵ He must have recalled when the Lord’s eyes met his after he had betrayed Christ the third time before a slave girl.⁶ Despite the betrayal, Christ gave Peter a personal interview after His resurrection. Three times the Lord inquired, “Do you love me?”⁷ With his heart laid bare before Christ, Peter’s motivation to serve was in response to the restoring love and grace of the risen Lord. The grateful heart serves willingly, compelled only by love for Christ and His people.

Secondly, leaders earn their authority when they are not self serving but self giving: “Not calculating what you can get out of it (MSG) but eager to serve (NIV).”⁸ There are too many leaders who plunder their countries’ resources and manipulate people and situations for personal benefit. They ask, “What’s in it for me?” while pondering how to discharge their leadership responsibilities. There are pastors who look after only the wealthy in hope of fiscal reward and leaders who promote agendas for personal returns. They have a streak of meanness that overestimates their personal value and contribution on the balance sheet of human interaction. The refrain “I deserve more or better” is replayed continuously in the calculative mind of the self serving leader. The same calculator undervalues and discounts the worth of others and their contributions.

Peter’s exhortation describes the person who helps himself to a double portion of food before his guests have a chance to a first helping. It also points to a person who goes to the theater only when he can get a free ticket or to one who gets his family to pay for his vacation even when he can afford it. It is the host who waters the wine so the party would not cost him too much. Self serving leaders hoard the tangibles while paying lip service to the noble.

In contrast, the self giving leader is so desirous to meet the needs of her people that she is willing to make available all resources, including material ones to do so. She is motivated by a deep desire to bless others, and sees her personal resources as a trust from God rather than a stockpile for personal gratification or a hedge against rainy days. Self giving matures into self sacrifice, the ultimate example of which is modeled by Christ. When a leader is sacrificial, the motivation to follow her is exponentially higher.

Finally, Peter says the leader with authority does not bossily tell others what to do, but tenderly shows them the way.⁹ For some, prestige and power are more desirable than money. Milton’s Satan thought it better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven! The desire to be master and commander turns an insecure person into a tyrant and despot. Such a leader’s agenda is paramount and no consideration is given to others’ needs and welfare. He exploits people and manipulates situations to fulfill his purposes. He can even provide spiritual justification for his self aggrandizement. He directs people to do what he himself is unable or unwilling to do.

On the contrary, if a leader is exemplary and competent, she will have the authority to take risks in difficult times and others will make sacrifices to stand with her. The leader with authority leads from the front, shows the way forward, and blazes the trail so others may follow. Alexander the Great of Macedonia led his army to overcome numerically stronger forces, conquering the then known world in the eleven years after he ascended the Greek throne after his father, Philip II was assassinated. He felt he could not require his men to risk their lives unless he was willing to put his life on the line too. The sight of Alexander leading the charge so inspired his soldiers that no military force could withstand them.¹⁰

Leading by example necessitates transparency. Leaders who preserve a façade of strength and imperviousness only encourage hypocrisy. They hide and excuse their own weaknesses while demanding perfection from their followers in brutal and punishing ways. Instead, a leader honest about his struggles can be tender because of his experience with God’s grace. He can demonstrate what it means to drink from the fountain of grace, and give hope to followers facing challenges in their own lives. Ironically, people respect leaders who are honest about their struggles, and follow those whose intentions are transparent.

When things go wrong, there is confusion with the clamor of conflicting voices. But, only those who can speak with clarity, step out to pave the way, and risk their own resources and lives will have the authority to lead. Only leaders with authority will inspire confidence to overcome the challenges that threaten our well-being and all that is important to us.

1. Cantril, Hadley. 1906-1969. PhD Harvard University. Joined Princeton University in 1936; became Chair of Princeton’s Department of Psychology and founded Princeton’s Office of Public Opinion.
2. I Peter 5:8
3. I Peter 5:2 MSG
4. I Peter 5:2 MSG
5. I Peter 5:1
6. Luke 22:61
7. John 21:15-19
8. I Peter 5:2c MSG & NIV
9. I Peter 5:3 paraphrased from MSG
10. Tracy, Brian. “The Indispensable Quality.” Brian Tracy International. Nov 10, 2008.
http://www.briantracy.com/articles/default.aspx?topicid=11&dtd=20081110 (Accessed May 2009).

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.