True Leaders are True Servants
It was the night that should have defined his life. In fact, in the eyes of the watching world, it likely did, but even those who were watching may not have realized why.
He was already a powerful and influential man, as he served as Vice-President of the United States. But this was–if things went the right way–to be his night. He had campaigned for President and was a favorite to win that highest office. Election returns started coming in that evening and things really were looking his way. Quite early in the evening, it was obvious he was going to be the President-elect and, early the next year, be sworn in as President. As he, his family, and friends enjoyed a late-evening meal, they knew that this was the defining moment of his political career.
This was his night, and now it was time to take a ride and make a speech, in which he would celebrate a major victory and a movement to the assumed role of the most powerful person in the Western world; and maybe the entire world.
But he did something first that very few people saw. While it was something that only a handful of people witnessed, it showed the character that defines truly great leaders.
He helped the staff clean up the dishes.
His name was George Herbert Walker Bush, and on that night, the night he was elected President, he showed what makes a true leader.
Former President Bush passed away just a few days ago, and I came across this little nugget from his life in all the hurry to share articles and tweets and posts about his life. Coincidentally, on the day this article is being published, my family is scheduled to read John 13, in which the greatest Leader who has ever lived picked up the towel and showed what true servant-leadership looks like.
While there is no doubt that history certainly remembers certain world leaders who were tyrants and could not have cared much less about people, and especially about serving other people, our memories are fond of leaders who were not “too good” to pick up a towel, or clean up some dishes, or do other tasks that might seem beneath them.
Who am I if I ever think that some task is so menial that it is beneath me? Who am I if I ever think that some job is too lowly for me to perform? How can I ever get so high-ranking that some work is below what I will stoop to do?
A President-elect could clean up some dishes. Infinitely more amazing, the Lord of the universe could wash the feet of sinners.
Who will I serve and, thus, who will I lead?
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
