Leading and Serving

Are you one who serves the needs of others? Are you a leader? Do you possibly see yourself filling both roles? Hopefully so. They are dependent on each other I think.

Voltaire (1694 – 1778) said, “The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor.” They provide the market of users or consumers of goods owned by the rich; they supply the cheap labor the rich use to produce the goods to sell. And so on. But Voltaire would have encouraged you to serve the poor and lift them up.  He would have educated them tirelessly so fresh ideas could pour forth. Voltaire was all for enjoying, working, and serving. He was a leader of the Age of Enlightenment.

Now, John Quincy Adams (1767 – 1848), the sixth president of the United States, shared this statement with us:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

With the 4^th of July so near it is good for us to ponder both of these quotes. We are reminded that disparity of economics is not permanent for individuals, but transitory. The poor may always be with us but a person need not always be among the poor. Individuals can aspire and reach different levels of financial ability. Serving them will help gain financial strength.

Teachers serve students. Of all ages. They help individuals acquire the reasoning and facts with which to expand knowledge and self sufficiency. Students are freed to go on to invent new things, new methods, and new lives. Each step affects others and inspires them to do the same. As the masses move forward so are others swept along the current of change. And in America that change also translates to prosperity. We all share in it. We all play a role in it.

Leaders have a quality of power inasmuch as they help others change their lives. But leadership is not power alone. In modern America we tend to see leaders as people of power. In a real sense they are, but such should not be confused with power of political persuasion or authoritative might. That’s another kind of leadership that often goes awry.

The 4^th of July ought to remind us that the people hold the power of the nation, not individual leaders. We let them become leaders by electing them, listening to them, but we do not necessarily have to follow them. Political leaders can influence but they do not hold power that trumps the people.

We seem to have forgotten that.

I read with interest the latest Supreme Court decision affecting the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The court did not throw out the law. It merely asked Congress to do its job. It is Congress who is to draw the map on which states, regions and communities are to be held to federal election laws. Should those identified areas not meet fair election requirements, they cannot change election laws without federal approval. The map is what is out dated in the mind of the Court. So it is Congress’ duty to amend it.

Will they? Are they able to do that? Probably not. They have been little able to accomplish much these past several years. They are too focused on ‘power’ and have forgotten those they serve – the people. The Supreme Court has maintained the separation of powers defined in the US Constitution. The Executive has authority and duty. So does Congress. As does the Supreme Court. Now will everyone just do what they are supposed to?

If not, changes will be made by We The People. Are we up to that task? I think we ought to prepare for it!

June 27, 2013