One Word, Two Definitions

Leadership.

There are those our society seems to regard as good leaders – wealthy, important, motivated. There are those that lead out of love – humble, selfless, with a servant’s heart. There are those who lead out of a desire to serve other people and to serve God, and there are those who lead out of a desire to feel important.

There are humble leaders who we really respect and admire, Mother Teresa for example. But no one actually wants to be like her. I hear kids say, “I want to grow up to be president.” I have never heard someone say, “I want to be like Mother Teresa. I want to devote my life to the poor living in the slums of India. The lepers, the orphans, the sick. I want to give up my comfortable lifestyle to make others comfortable.” And yet the argument could be made that Mother Teresa is one of the most respected people to have lived. Perhaps because she was willing to do what we won't.

I mean, look at Jesus. There are a lot of people who respect and recognize Jesus as a great moral teacher even if they don’t believe he still lives. But how many people would say they want to walk around a homeless teacher for three years and then die an agonizing death?

How many people dream of being a band leader, a star athlete, a government official, or spend their lives working their way up the corporate ladder to become a manager, maybe even a CEO?

We look for attention. We want to be noticed. We want all eyes on us.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - Lord Acton.

There are those who taste what it's like to be in the spotlight and crave more. Brighter lights, more shows. Who learn to manipulate people to achieve their own ends. Maybe even lead people astray to keep their power.

Yet there are those who lead to bring others to their full potential. Who make sacrifices for those who are under their care. Most of us would be nowhere without people like this.