Faith & Life Inspirational Message

Some of what I have done in life would be explicitly called ministry.   But most of the things I have done would not have been called ministry, but in fact were a form of ministry.   In this country the term, ministry, usually has religious overtones.   People think ministers are special people within the church who often have designated roles.   Clearly, priests and pastors are doing ministry.   In fact, they are often called “ministers.”   And there are other folks within the church structure who also minister.             This is not a bad use of the idea of ministry.   Truly there are people who are doing amazing ministers in their church context.   But the problem is to limit the word, minister, to a church context.   It is a much broader word.   The word comes from the Latin word, minister , which means to serve.   Therefore, it means servant.   It can be noted tha...

I have been privileged to be able to see myself as a leader.   I do bring some native talent to the leadership opportunities I have had, but I also have had a helping hand offered by many different people at a number of junctions in my life.   I have had many good leadership models to help me get clear about what leadership style fits my personality and my own Quaker convictions.   I also have watched some leaders whom I thought were not very good and were more of a negative model.   They showed me ways I never wanted to be seen as a leader.             I remember getting some leadership opportunities as early as elementary school.   In the bigger scheme of things, these were miniscule leadership chances.   However, they gave me an early chance to practice being a leader.   Much to my surprise, some other kids followed my lead!   I guess you are a leader if someone follows you.   ...

Recently I was with a wonderful group of people who were thinking about servant leadership.   It is a concept that has rich meaning to me.   As I thought about it, I realized that I have probably been trying to be a leader since elementary school days.   I don’t know that I started out to be a servant leader, but that idea came to be part of my leadership style fairly early in my career.             Part of what attracts me to the idea of being a servant leader is my own personality.   As I think about it, I have always preferred being part of a group and helping a group along.   I certainly have played the role of the lone ranger, but that is not as much fun for me as leading a group.   I also think my own Quaker tradition values encourage a kind of servant leadership model.   Quakers have always felt like the group is more important than any single individual.   I agree with this and have...

When I begin the day, I try to spend a little time in some devotions.   One of the things I like to do is use the lectionary---the daily readings---from the Benedictine monks.   I find some solace in knowing that what I am doing, every Benedictine monk and nun in this country and abroad is also doing.   It draws me into an invisible community of seriously devout people.   If I am not quite in the same place as they are, perhaps their influence can come my way.   They are good company to keep!   This morning I turned to the lectionary and the reading was from Psalm 24.   The opening line of that Psalm is engaging.   “ The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness…”   This certainly has the effect of putting me in my place.   The earth and everything on the earth and in the earth is the Lord’s.   Obviously I and you inhabit only the smallest part of the earth.   I can give you my address.   I can tell you where I live and wher...

Sometimes I wonder when I first encounter a concept that has become important to me and my life’s work.   Sometimes I can remember, but most of the time I have no clue.   Often we bump into new concepts and there would be no way of knowing the concept will become important later in life.   Such it is with the concept of servant-leadership.             The idea of servant-leadership defines how I have tried to be a leader.   A leader is a leader, but many leaders are not servant-leaders.   And there are countless servants, but few would be servant-leaders.   The reason this concept is important to me is simple.   I think it is a spiritual approach to leadership.   I also happen to think most of the major world religions have championed this kind of leadership.   I think this is the style of leadership evidenced by Jesus.   That seems true for the one called the Buddha. ...

Recently I had reason to engage a biblical text that I have not read for a while.   It is a very familiar story to me, so I was glad to hear it again. The story comes from John’s Gospel and it narrates an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well.   Since I used to teach a seminar on John’s Gospel, I have thought about this rather long passage and read a fair number of commentaries to gain a deeper understanding.            The passage is far too long to give consideration to all its aspects.   So we can pick off a few salient features that have something to do with our spiritual life today.   In the first place, a little historical background might be useful.   I almost always want to laugh when I begin to share some of the historical background.   I laugh because Jesus really should not be at that well at that hour with that woman!       Going to the well to fet...