Love and Leadership

So my Christmas Day reading consisted of two highly disparate pieces of literature...

"Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders, and

"Snog: A Puppy's Guide to Love" by Rachael Hale.

Yeah, I know...weird.

But stranger still is the fact that, in my very limited reading in each book, a common theme emerged.

From "Spiritual Leadership"...

"The true leader is concerned primarily with the welfare of others, not with his own comfort or prestige. He shows sympathy for the problems of others, but his sympathy fortifies and stimulates; it does not soften and make weak. A spiritual leader will always direct the confidence of others to the Lord. He sees in each emergency a new opportunity for helpfulness..."

"D.E. Hoste spoke about the secrets of Hudson Taylor, whom Hoste had followed in leadership of the China Inland Mission: 'Another secret of his influence among us lay in his great sympathy and thoughtful consideration for the welfare and comfort of those about him...He manifested great tenderness and patience toward the failures and shortcomings of his brethren, and was thus able in many cases to help them reach a higher plane of devotion'."

And, succinctly, from "Snog":

"Love does not dominate...
Love cultivates."

Every day gives us opportunities to lead and to love. Perhaps they are simply two sides of the same coin.

My prayer is that each of us will lead well and love much in the new year.