The 1 main leadership characteristic
/I'm frequently asked to define who is a leader or to list the key leadership attributes for leaders today. Everyone has their lists but I've been reminded in these last 2 months that "really only 1 thing matters". Henri Nouwen rightly said over 20 years ago:
It is not enough for the ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow human being, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word and to taste fully of God's infinite goodness?
Notice that Nouwen acknowledges that their are important characteristics of a leader (his list is quite daunting) but he simplifies the list down to the one and only vital characteristic - a leader must have a vibrant intimacy with God. How often I focus on, give time to, value more highly so many other aspects of leadership and leave this most vital aspect underdeveloped? Although writing over 20 years ago, Nouwen clearly summarizes the main need of leaders today.
Nouwen is reminding us of the same life instruction that Jesus gave in Luke 10:38-42 - "you worry about many things but only 1 thing is needed". I have been focused over the last 2 months on keeping this one essential (developing greater and greater intimacy with Jesus) as my top priority. It has been so encouraging to see the fruit that God has been bearing as I abide in Christ. That's what Jesus promised would happen. Pray for me that this will continue to be my on-going #1 focus. How is this going for you? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
If you'd like to think on this a bit more, a good friend and colleague, Dr. Olan Stubbs, shared about this in here: http://briarwood.org/?powerpress_pinw=28322-podcast