“We are all called to lead; regardless of our gender, role, title, race, past failures or experience. God has gifted us to serve and bring out the best in others”
Called to Lead
October 27, 2020
I’ve been reflecting a lot on leadership in 2020, so I thought it could be a great topic for today’s Touchstone. That was until I scanned the 1st reading for today. It is Ephesians 5:21-33 where Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands, so I naturally said, "Oh, H-E-double hockey sticks NO!" But, I studied the whole chapter for context, as well as the gospel and it's acclamation, and I found that it actually speaks quite nicely about leadership and service.
I’m excited to share my reflections with you today and afterward, I hope you will find time to listen to the song selection. It is a video of English actress, singer and songwriter, Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo, performing “Stand Up” at the 2020 Oscars. She co-wrote this song with Joshua Brian Campbell for the movie “Harriet” about American abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman. Harriet, a woman born into slavery, would not have been seen as a leader in her day (and unfortunately probably still not today), and yet she stood up and took action where there was a need and rescued 70 enslaved people after she herself had escaped. If you ever find yourself in need of encouragement to answer a call to lead that you feel deep inside you, listen and sing this refrain over and over.
“I’m gonna stand up!
Take my people with me,
together we are going
to a brand new home.
Far across the river
do you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer,
gonna keep on keepin' on.
I can feel it in my bones."
May you lead with love, courage and humility,
Teresa Stone
Director of Music
.
In this same vein, as an accompanying song I went scavenging through my own archives to find a favorite piece that I used to sing fairly often. Not really a church composition, per se, it is a song by Stephen Schwartz about being open and prepared enough to recognize when something amazing comes along and being ready take a chance, make the change necessary and embrace the unimagined possibilities of a greater, joy-filled life.
I hope you are all continuing to be well and to actively and intentionally hunt the good moments and savor them when you can.
God Bless,
Fr. Pat
Friday of the Twenty Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
"Stand Up"
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