I am Not A Leader
Have you ever found yourself saying something like that?
If you think you are not a leader, I would ask you, if you haven’t already, to see the movie “Hacksaw Ridge.”
This is about a young man, Desmond Doss, who wanted to serve his country in World War II, but did not want to carry a gun. He chose to serve as a medic. When men American soldiers were getting gunned down on the ridge, he stayed on the ridge, refusing to follow orders to retreat. He saved “somewhere between 50 and 100” soldiers. This selfless feat of bravery won him the devotion of the soldiers who had to go back up the ridge the next day. According to the film, Doss learned about secret tunnels while staying on that ridge that fateful night. And this turned the tide of the fighting.
Desmond Doss wanted to serve his country AND not carry a gun. He chose to do this by being a medic. Do you think for one minute he ever thought he was going to be a leader? Yet when he found himself in a bad situation, he just did what he knew to be the right thing. He was not trying to get noticed. He was not looking for followers. He was not seeking likes on Instagram or Facebook. Yet, the next day he had men looking to him, waiting for him to have his devotional time and read the Bible, so that he was ready to go with them and lead by example. They knew his character, and now were ready to fight with (perhaps for) this young man.
Leadership does not mean “taking charge,” “barking orders,” or even desiring to be noticed. Real leadership is all about doing the right thing even when “no one is watching.” Plato tells a story of the Ring of Gyges. This ring grants invisibility and anonymity to the wearer. Plato argues that visibility is the only barrier between the just and unjust person. A leader knows that especially when no one is watching, one must do the right thing.
Now, imagine if you spent your days doing what you know to be right. You are not looking for acknowledgement, not looking for notice, or “likes.” Imaging you did that for weeks or a few months, even (especially) when the situation was “not so good.” Now if I asked you to look behind you, I’m curious what you think you would see? You might be surprised to find that your family, your coworkers, your friends, are looking at you. When people know you to be that kind of a person, they will be watching – and following your lead!