<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/240d9f86-29de-49dd-b115-ab30f5bd4bed/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213553.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/240d9f86-29de-49dd-b115-ab30f5bd4bed/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213553.jpg" width="40px" /> The elemental archetype of "brotherly kindness" in the context of Peter's instructions and leadership can be interpreted as follows:
Each of the natural endowments Peter lists, including "brotherly kindness", can be seen as default "factory settings" in the design of a born leader. These are not just virtues to be developed in isolation, but are integral to the leader's role in guiding their team and achieving their mission.
In the case of "brotherly kindness", this virtue is not just about general niceness or a passive sense of goodwill. Instead, it's a proactive, strategic, and mission-focused form of kindness. It's about the leader recognizing the unique contributions of each team member, and creating an environment where these contributions are valued and where all team members are motivated to give their best.
Therefore, in the context of leadership, "brotherly kindness" is about much more than just being nice. It's about building a team culture that is conducive to mission achievement, and about treating each team member with the respect, dignity, and individualized attention that they deserve.
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/5a1be7ff-4232-48ea-8987-306e9fdc201c/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213553.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/5a1be7ff-4232-48ea-8987-306e9fdc201c/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213553.jpg" width="40px" /> If you have isolated this natural endowment as your life operating system:
Humility, a key trait of a Christian leader, indicates God's favor and readiness for greater responsibilities. It involves serving others with respect, seriousness, and effectiveness, without envy of their differences. Instead, these differences are viewed as unique contributions to God's larger plan and purpose in His kingdom.
The life of Jesus Christ exemplifies humility in leadership. Despite His divine status, He chose to wash the feet of His disciples, a task typically reserved for the lowliest servant in a household. This act was a powerful demonstration of humility and service. It showed that true greatness in God's kingdom is not about wielding power or authority over others, but about selflessly serving them.
Therefore, a humble Christian leader sees their role as an opportunity to serve others selflessly, not a platform for self-promotion. They understand that their leadership is a form of stewardship entrusted to them by God, and they are to lead with a servant's heart. This perspective helps them to lead with integrity, make decisions that are in the best interests of those they lead, and create a culture of mutual respect and service.
The leadership style of the "proistemic genius" is characterized by the following key traits:
Jacob's life is a profound narrative of struggle, inadequacy, and divine favor. His story begins with a literal struggle in his mother's womb with his twin brother, Esau, foreshadowing a life marked by conflict and competition. This struggle continues into their youth, most notably when Jacob deceives his father Isaac to receive the blessing intended for Esau, his older brother. This act of deception deepens the rift between the brothers, forcing Jacob to flee for his life and live in exile, far from the comforts and privileges of his father's house.
During his exile, Jacob's life is characterized by a sense of insufficiency. He works for his uncle Laban for many years, enduring deception and exploitation, to marry Rachel, the woman he loves. Despite his growing wealth and large family, Jacob remains haunted by his past actions and the fear of Esau's revenge. This fear comes to a head when he returns to his homeland and learns of Esau's approach with a large company of men. In anticipation of this feared confrontation, Jacob sends ahead substantial gifts to appease his brother, hoping to mitigate the consequences of his past deception.
On the eve of this confrontation, Jacob has a mysterious encounter with a divine being, often interpreted as an angel. They wrestle until daybreak, and the angel, unable to overpower Jacob, strikes his hip socket, leaving him with a permanent limp. Despite his physical pain, Jacob refuses to let go until he receives a blessing. The angel then renames him Israel, meaning "he struggles with God," and blesses him. This encounter is a turning point for Jacob, marking a shift from his reliance on his cunning and strength to a humble dependence on God's grace and provision. This new identity is further affirmed when Esau greets him not with revenge, but with forgiveness and reconciliation, defying Jacob's worst fears and expectations.
Despite his physical and emotional scars, Jacob's life is a testament to the paradox of divine favor and human frailty. His greatest moments of favor and blessing come not in his moments of strength and self-sufficiency, but in his moments of weakness and vulnerability. He is a patriarch who is both flawed and faithful, wrestling with his insecurities and inadequacies, yet beloved by God and blessed to be a blessing to others. In this way, Jacob's life is a powerful illustration of the biblical principle of "the last will be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16) and the beatitude of being "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3).
Both Jacob's wrestle with God and Jesus' struggle in the garden of Gethsemane, though distinct in their contexts and significances, are profound narratives of struggle, obedience, and divine purpose. Here are some parallels that can be drawn between the two:
The leadership styles of Jacob and Jesus, as illustrated in the 7 Modalities paradigm, provide profound insights into the concept of "suffering is in the soup." This aphorism underscores the intrinsic challenges and responsibilities of leadership, particularly in navigating the complexities of team dynamics and staying at the forefront of change.
Jacob's life journey, marked by struggle, inadequacy, and divine favor, offers a rich tapestry for understanding the multifaceted nature of leadership. His early life was characterized by conflict and competition, most notably in his deception of his father Isaac to receive the blessing intended for his older brother Esau. This act of deception, while driven by a desire for favor and blessing, plunged Jacob into a life of exile and hardship, far from the comforts and privileges of his father's house. This narrative arc in Jacob's life can be seen as a metaphor for the "wounds of the leader" - the personal sacrifices and moral dilemmas that leaders often grapple with in their pursuit of a larger vision or mission.
During his exile, Jacob's life was marked by a sense of insufficiency. He worked for his uncle Laban for many years, enduring deception and exploitation, to marry Rachel, the woman he loved. Despite his growing wealth and large family, Jacob remained haunted by his past actions and the fear of Esau's revenge. This fear came to a head when he returned to his homeland and learned of Esau's approach with a large company of men. In anticipation of this feared confrontation, Jacob sent ahead substantial gifts to appease his brother, hoping to mitigate the consequences of his past deception. This period in Jacob's life can be seen as a metaphor for the "burden of the team" - the leader's responsibility to navigate the complexities of team dynamics, manage conflicts and differences, and create a culture of mutual respect and trust.
On the eve of this confrontation, Jacob had a mysterious encounter with a divine being, often interpreted as an angel. They wrestled until daybreak, and the angel, unable to overpower Jacob, struck his hip socket, leaving him with a permanent limp. Despite his physical pain, Jacob refused to let go until he received a blessing. The angel then renamed him Israel, meaning "he struggles with God," and blessed him. This encounter is a turning point for Jacob, marking a shift from his reliance on his cunning and strength to a humble dependence on God's grace and provision. This new identity is further affirmed when Esau greets him not with revenge, but with forgiveness and reconciliation, defying Jacob's worst fears and expectations.