Am I a Leader?

The topic of leadership has been written about by dozens of "experts" and taught in hundreds of seminars around the world. There doesn't seem to be much more to be said on this topic. But, as I'm learning what it means to lead a new arts and faith initiative, I've been thinking about how I would describe myself as a leader. Recently reading "Strong and Weak" by Andy Crouch has brought clarity to my thinking. While it isn't new or profound, the reminder has been valuable. 

In Crouch's excellent book, he writes, "Leadership does not begin with a title or a position. It begins the moment you are concerned more about the others' flourishing than you are about your own." WOW! This seems to fly in the face of nearly all the leadership books that are so popular. The standard for a true leader is not their lists of accomplishments and awards--it is the flourishing of those under his/her care. How many leaders model this? Are there any in our political or commercial realm? Even in the church?

Clearly, by this standard, our greatest example of a leader would be Jesus Christ. His leadership was marked with delegating, serving, and empowering others. The most poignant picture of his leadership style is found in John 13 as Jesus knelt and washed the feet of his disciples. But, the essence of his leadership style was also found as he sent out his disciples to heal and to bring freedom from oppression; in the many examples of the "sending" in what we call the Great Commission; and so many other illustrations. Jesus, the God-Man, was not seeking to dominate his followers. Instead, he was committed to the empowerment of those who followed him! I've often thought about how humanly foolish it seemed to leave the spread of the Kingdom in the hands of broken people like us!

I cannot conclude these thoughts better than Andy Crouch does. He writes, "We learn that the desire to control others is an idolatry that will not deliver what we seek and will certainly not lead to their flourishing. So we turn over power to others, giving them authority to act on their own behalf, to cultivate and create in their own right rather than just implementing our vision. We discover the joy of true power, which is to make room for others to act with authority. We measure our lives increasingly by what others have done--and received credit for--thanks to our advocacy. By exposing ourselves to the possibility that they will surprise and delight us with the flourishing they create."

May this be the mark of my attempts at being a leader.

Am I an Artist?

I am a lover of art and passionate about encouraging artists. This began over twenty-three years ago in the midst of my deepest grief and has grown over the years. I serve as the Europe Ministries Director of the largest ministry/mission agency that is populated with only artists and people doing imaginative work. I'm the founder/director of local arts' initiative in the greater Charlotte region. But, I am not an artist and there is always a hesitation when I introduce myself or start to tell my story of why I'm doing what I do. My normal introduction is "I am NOT an artist, but. . ." But is this accurate?

Pablo Picasso is often frequently quoted, as saying, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain one once he grows up." Was there a time in my life when artistic expression was natural to me? Did I paint? Work with clay? Dance? Sing? I have no memory of doing artistic things. I find that horribly sad. What caused me to lose the artistic freedom of expression in my life? Was it criticism from a teacher or a fellow student? Or, was it my own perfectionism that could never be satisfied? I really do not know.

What I do know is that I have a strong desire to be an artist--primarily a visual artist. But I have an even stronger fear to even try. What has produced such an unreasonable reaction to something that Picasso says was a natural part of being a child? There seems to be no logical cause of my fear. Oh, I buy books by the dozens about art. I just don't do art. Why?

Knowledge can never replace practice if one wishes to be an artist.

I have termed myself a "Creative Catalyst" (from Makoto Fujimura's writings). I encourage artists. I lead events and activities for artists. I teach churches how to embrace and engage with artists. I am deeply touched by quality art, of all types. I try to surround myself with good art and good music. But, I am still not an artist.

I will not deny my creative expression in my home, clothing and family. I do not question I have that part of the "Imago Dei" (image of God) called creativity. But, I still cannot declare, "I am an artist". 

This has been a personal and quite vulnerable sharing. I don't know if it speaks to others of their lives as well. Perhaps it isn't art, but other pleasurable activities that are denied because of fear. I know that such fear of not of God. I also know that God does not want such irrational fear to keep us from engaging in all the beautiful expressions that are available to us in this life. But, again, knowing and doing are not synonymous.

I would love to hear from you about the fears that block your freedom to engage in things that are important to you in life. Perhaps you can share how you've found the courage to face those fears and conquer them. I'm sure many of you have had issues far more serious to face than my fear of picking up a paint brush, but we are still together in seeking to overcome that which holds us back. Let's support each other in our journey of courage. 

The Annunciation: a Pro-Life Declaration

In the calendar of the church year, March 25 is normally the day that we celebrate as the "Annunciation" or the biblical event when the Angel Gabriel appears to the young, unmarried girl, Mary, to inform her of God's choosing her to bear the Messiah. Mary's response of surrender and praise has always been an example and challenge to me. Artistic representations of this event have spoken to me in a special way. In fact, I have a diptych of Fra Angelico's portrayal of this event as one of my prized items from our visit to Florence, Italy. A few years ago, I produced a "movie" using dozens of artistic portrayals of this scene to present to our church during Advent. 

This year, because this "holiday" would have coincided with Good Friday, the western world celebrated the Annunciation on Monday, 04 April. On that day, former Texas senator, Wendy Davis, spoke at noted Notre Dame University on the benefits of abortion! Imagine--choosing to speak on the right to kill an unexpected and/or unwanted child on the very day when we acknowledge the value of life as God took on human flesh and lived among us. It is beyond comprehension to imagine Mary responding to this interruption in her life as Ms. Davis promoted!

I was recently made aware of an unique piece of art called Virgin Mary Consoles Eve, by Sister Grace Remington.  The symbols and imagery of this piece evokes strong emotions for me. Two "mothers of the human race"--but one with shame and guilt evident in her body language and the other, presenting compassion, forgiveness and hope. The fruit of their wombs were destined to meet but Mary's seed brought hope to all mankind--for now and for eternity. Powerful. A statement that God is the source of life and that God's Son was sent that the value of life was assured.

Sister Grace Remington OCSO is a Cistercian sister of the Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa. They offer this poem to accompany the painting. I hope it is speaks life and encouragement to you. We MUST celebrate ALL of life--beginning at conception--as we celebrate the Annunciation and Incarnation of our Savior.

Two women, old and new

One’s flesh tainted, the other’s faith true.

Lovely Eve, with face from God downcast

Clings to shame imposed by her past.

Glorious tresses fail to bring

O’er corrupted flesh full covering.

No passage of time can hide

The death of life she feels inside.

Far from the garden as she may flee

She can’t outrun shame’s misery.

Her labour miscarried, her fruit ill-born,

Love’s light lost leaves her soul forlorn.

Will serpent’s grip forever chase

All hope of freedom from her face?

In expectation and agony she sighs

As one by one, each offspring dies.

But from one daughter a Seed now springs,

An incorruptible life to end Eve’s suffering.

Perfect fruit Mary’s willing womb bears,

Proof to the world its Creator still cares.

Two women meet face to face.

Eve, damned by law, encounters Mary, full of Grace.

“God is with us,” her feminine form cries.

“Through our seed the serpent crushed, and his lies.”

Take heart, mother, sister, daughter.

Lift up your heads, oh son, brother, father.

The King of Glory comes as gentle Healer

His reign to restore creation’s grandeur.

Eden shall return, only bigger and better;

Christ has come His earth to unfetter.

Sons brought to glory, daughters adorned as a bride

Reigning o’er heaven and earth by His side.

Two women, both mothers of our race,

Look in hope on their newborn baby’s face—

The fulfillment of God’s promise, the hope of life to come—

Leave behind disgrace as they celebrate the Son.

Mary Magdalene--a Woman of Prominence

Tomorrow I will speak on Mary Magdalene, one of my favorite Biblical characters. She fascinates me, not only because of the fact that she was one of the disciples who lived and worked with Jesus during his earthly ministry, but because she. . . a woman. . . was chosen by God to be the first to witness the risen Christ and the first one to be given the commission to "Go. . . tell" of the Resurrection. The honor of this could not be overstated. A woman, who in her culture of that day, would not have been considered a reliable witness, nor worthy of being heard, is the first one to be sent by Jesus to testify of that He lives. Amazing.

But, what really intrigues me is that she is the most slandered and falsely represented of all of the people in the Bible. She has been called a prostitute; a person filled with the seven deadly sins; a lover of Judas, John and Jesus; the bearer of Jesus' children; and so much more. Her reputation has been destroyed in sermons, books, art and film. Her relationship with Jesus made into a "holy pornography". She has also been accused of having a contentious relationship with the disciples. WHY? Why distort the truth of the Scriptures concerning this one person?

I believe this has been a concerted, intentional attack of Satan to destroy the truth of the Resurrection by discounting the messenger. The Enemy could not thwart God's plan of redemption, but he continues to weaken and damage the message by corrupting the reputation of the messenger. It's time that we declare "No!" to this demonic attack!

There are some clear ways that Mary Magdalene teaches or challenges me in my walk with God. She exhibited total surrender to the Lord and His service. She gave up her home and comfort and of her funds to enable the work of the Savior. Mary Magdalene showed extreme courage by staying by the cross during the entire crucifixion. She also exemplified strength and courage in staying by the tomb and then returning while it was still dark. She didn't deny Christ or run away under the threat that was inherent in being identified with Christ. She confronted the male disciples in their unbelief that Jesus still lived.

So, I must ask myself these questions: Do I have such sacrificial love of my Lord? Am I willing to give up everything for His service? Do I exhibit courage in my testimony in the face of unbelief or possible persecution? What am I holding onto and won't give up for the sake of the Kingdom? Am I willing to live out my new life offered by our Savior--or am I stuck in my old habits and sinful responses? 

Now, during this Easter season, I want the example of Mary Magdalene to be used of God to be mine. She is the example of one who was freed from Satan's bondage and lived in the freedom of the reality of Resurrection. That's my desire,  May it be yours, as well.