There are a few words that we tend to throw around on a
regular basis without really have a sense of their weight or meaning. Then out
of the blue there is an occurrence with brings perspective.
Two of these are ‘service’ and ‘leadership’.
In these Notes, I have vowed to keep silent about all but
the most infuriating political issues. Anger is pernicious. So, I will not
comment on the state or non-state of government leadership. I also find that
where things are happening, it is not Federal or even State leadership that
matters the most. If we wait for the capital-L Leaders to provide tangible
help, it may be too late. As one of my political heroes Tip O’Neill always
said, all politics are local. We can extend that qualification to leadership as
well.
The fascinating part of this pandemic is how leaders have
emerged, not from the ranks of the powerful but from those of the average. We
have seen folks spearheading fund drives and outreach. People have stepped up
to champion causes. Even those who have decided to put music and entertainment
into the social media sphere have performed courageous acts of leadership.
‘Service’ is a similar process. I have been a member of the
Rotary Club for almost four years now and have been involved in both raising
contributions and actual hands-on service through that august organization and
others. Even then, in times of relative normalcy, it is easy to pass over the
importance of service. Planting trees, serving meals, donating dictionaries all
feel good. There is satisfaction and humility to be found in the warm gratitude
that these acts of kindness elicit. We could smile the smug smiles of
“job-well-done” and go back to our lives or planning the next run of service.
Until now, though, there has been no feeling of urgency or essence.
When the task at hand is so great that we can’t see the
‘done’ part of our job, it is hard to know how to even start in service. We are
reminded then that service often occurs when there is no feel-good scenario –
when the work is overwhelming, and we just roll up our proverbial shirtsleeves
and get to it.
In those moments, the two words, ‘service’ and ‘leadership’,
must overlap and become cognates. Every gesture of service is an expression of
leadership. In times like these, it is those local gestures that have the most
impact.
[This Post was adapted from a essay originally published on Facebook the day listed above]
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