Vision of a Servant Leader - “Connecting What Can be to What Is”

     The vision of the Servant Leader is a call to think outside the box.

Vision: The unusual competence in discernment or perception –

foresight in the manner in which one sees or conceives of something.

Thinking outside the box is a difficult task, and yet it is an essential characteristic in understanding Servant Leadership.  The Servant Leader is the one who is able to dream- not fantasy or wishful thinking - but able to look beyond the limits of a current situation or moment; being on fire with an urgency and vision for change.

The Power of the Dream

     While understanding the past, the Servant Leader begins to identify the assumptions guiding or informing the current challenges, and wanting to envision a new way of doing things, asks the question “What if?” That’s the moment when the Servant Leader is able to become the motivating force to build those relationships that will foster creative forces and inspire collaboration. Others will be empowered not merely to follow but to lead; challenging the process and encouraging the heart of the mission- sharing the “What if?” 

     The focus of Jesus’ life was in preaching God’s Reign.  It was the center of his teaching, his mission and ministry.  Jesus didn’t perceive or present God’s Reign as a “kingdom” established by power, prestige or position.  Jesus presented God’s Reign as a kingdom established by service.  That understanding was clarified for Jesus for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert (Read the temptation scene.) In the desert Jesus is tempted to give up the long range vision of God’s Reign and his connection with God – Abba - for a more immediate connection – a secular kingdom – without reference to God. 

     Jesus teaches us that God’s Reign is in our midst, and we are invited to share in it by embracing change or conversion - having the eyes to see and the ears to hear. Jesus says, “I tell you many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”  For Jesus, God’s presence is not a one-dimensional but rather multi-dimensional experience.  Not only could we experience it in worship, but also through the experience of art, music, beauty.  The character of God – the Spirit of God - would be encountered in the midst of the common human experience, and in particular in service to others.

     A Servant Leader embodies these qualities:

• 1) The leader must have a vision of where we are going
• 2) The leader must have a plan to get there
• 3) The leader must lead by example
• 4) The leader must hold others accountable

Jesus the model of the servant leader had a vision- the transformation of the world – shaping the present – sharing in God’s life  – the kingdom was in our midst (Matt 6:33); Jesus had a plan on how to get there – Beatitude way of life (Matt 5:3-12); Jesus lead by example – washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-17); Jesus would hold others accountable – the story of the Last Judgment (Matt 25:31-46).

What if we shared the same disposition or spirit of service that empowered Jesus?  What if we took seriously the reality that we are the beloved of God?   What if shared the same vision as Jesus for the world? 

God's Vision of Justice