Loving and Just Father,
In Your kingdom we are worth more than can be imagined. Greater even than the scales of justice is the gift You bestow on us. Help us to consider Your call to each of us and to all of us as a country as we approach the time to select candidates for leadership in the United States of America. AmenReflection
In case my nieces and nephew read my blog yesterday, I thought I might continue with a similar theme today.
How do we recognize and raise up leaders in our midst? Is it because we see talents and gifts which can truly lead, guide, direct , and show the way to our community as a whole? Or do we choose them in less than good faith, hoping to further our own agenda, perhaps to the detriment of the greater community? In the United States we continuously have the opportunity to raise up, support and elect our leaders. With what kind of discerning do we weigh our choices?
Perhaps one way to discern the leadership abilities of potential leaders is to consider the parable of the vineyard owner, who hires laborers at various hours of the day… encouraging them to use their ability to work. (Matthew 20:1-16) He empowers anyone who wishes to respond to his invitation. At day’s end, the workers are paid, not according to a measured amount per hour of work, but for an honest effort to work. Each and every laborer receives a day’s wages. For some, this approach may not work in our economics today, but I think that the owner represents God’s presence to each of us. We are invited to use our time and talents. God holds us accountable to respond to the call to be all that we are created to be rather than measuring each of us according to how much we accomplish.
Do our leaders (and do we) serve as guides, giving inspiration and showing the way to others so that all can use their gifts and talents to realize their vocations in life? Or do they (we) get in the way of others by trying to put personal agendas ahead of the needs of others – of the community as a whole?
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