Dear Friends,
Yesterday I was amazed to watch a congressional hearing
where politicians on both sides of the aisle spent most all their time tearing
down one another. There was little effort to listen or try to understand one
another's position. It was the “I gotcha" game at its best.
The goal of each speaker was to attack his/her opponent,
often by demeaning and embarrassing them. No one wanted to solve a problem or
try to understand one another. No one wanted to listen to what their opponent
had to say. The obvious goal of the discussion was for each person to win his
argument by tearing down the other person.
Sadly, nothing is ever accomplished and there are never any
winners in a game like that. Shame on our politicians for being what John
Maxwell calls "low road' leaders.
In his new book High Road Leadership, John
describes the need today for a different kind of leader, a "high road”
leader
"We desperately need high road leaders today who are
more concerned about solving problems than winning
arguments.”......"No matter what the circumstances, if we want to be
good leaders, we must come to the table, sit in the middle without choosing a
side, listen to others, and work to bring people together..... If we can't work
with people who disagree with you, you will never become the leader you could
be."
How does one become a” high road” leader? John says, “By
treating others better than they treat you, and with consistency and without
judgmentalism… High road leaders don’t focus on the chasm between people, they
focus on connection.”
Sounds a lot like the teaching of Jesus who taught his
followers to heed His example by loving one another as He loved us-
sacrificially, unconditionally, and through actions rather than just feelings.
And yes, Jesus instructed his followers “to love their
enemies, and to do good to those who hate them, and pray for those who
mistreat them” (Luke 6:27-28).
Maybe our leaders need to open their bibles and take note
of the words of the greatest ‘High Road’ leader who ever lived.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
P.S. "Hate has caused a lot of problems in the world but has not solved
one yet." Maya Angelou.
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