Leading in Weakness

I have again stumbled upon a concept I'm trying to understand...

I found it in Joan Chittister's book, The Rule of Benedict, a book I am slowly trying to "digest". ("Reading" doesn't aptly describe my slow progress and my reflection of its words!)

The author is writing about leadership, commenting on the Rule of Benedict (written 1500 years ago), where Benedict writes that monastic leaders... "must always remember what they are and what they are called, aware that more will be expected of one to whom more has been entrusted. They must know what a difficult and demanding burden they have undertaken: directing..., serving..., coaxing, reproving, and encouraging... as appropriate... They must... accommodate and adapt themselves to each one's character and intelligence..."

She is focusing on the thought that leaders must "remember what they are..."

She writes that parents and teachers - and leaders (in any context) - are to "keep clearly in mind their own weak souls and dark minds... when they touch the souls and minds and hearts of others."

Leading in humility. Trying to be wise... constantly remembering that we, too, are imperfect - remembering also that each person we are leading is imperfect - and different - as we try to accommodate and adapt ourselves and our expectations.

Thinking of my role as a parent (the only "leadership" role I currently have) ... Does this mean that there are no hard or fast rules, but simply principles that need to be adapted to each person's character and intelligence because we are all different? Making and following rules inflexibly is so much easier!

(But isn't God exactly a "parent" like that?! No two of us have lives that are exactly the same! We don't serve a "cookie-cutter" God!)