Monday; February 19

Can you imagine trying to lead 3 million independently-minded people? That was the challenge for the first president of the United States. When George Washington took the reins of the new republic (that has just been united after revolting against Great Britton) he was tasked with leading diverse groups toward a common goal. If that sounds incredible, imagine the task today with 330 million people! It is easy to be critical of our presidents over the last few decades, but they do have a difficult task.

As I thought about this challenge, I got to thinking about leadership in general. It can be a difficult to be a leader; but, if we are going to be effective one of the most important qualities of leadership is impartiality. True leaders – those who hope to make the most of the responsibility – care for what is best for their people. No, there is no way that we can please all people all the time, but when leaders work for the common good, they can be effective. However, when they promote a partisan or personal agenda, they are no longer leaders, they take on the role of a manipulator. It doesn’t matter if the person is called to lead three or three hundred million people, legitimate leaders seek what is best for others.

Have we been tasked with being a leader? If so, are we looking to do what is best for our followers or merely for one segment of the people we have been called to oversee?

Think About It!

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