Would you rather be a wise shepherd leading a flock of docile sheep, or be the wily leader of a band of hungry wolves?
Not infrequently, this module on leadership in business school or executive training, walks participants through the pros and cons of two team-leader role-models. As the discussion and classroom scenarios play themselves out, the participants will reflect on the wisdom of being a resourceful leader of a group of independent thinking wolves, each contributing to the fortunes of the group with divergent thinking, each capable of eking out a strategy to survive, and always assessing and constantly questioning their leader critically. The docile sheep, on the other hand, is totally dependent, unquestioning, and trusting of the shepherd for directions, and being perhaps blindly obedient, be open to the perils of poor leadership decisions.
Your choice? Wolves 1 – Sheep 0.
The readings in this 4th Sunday of Easter, continues to remind us that the philosophy and demands of following Christ is indeed out of this world. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are reminded of the persuasive powers of St Peter as he “spoke to them for a long time, using many other arguments, and urged, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation’ “. In the second reading, we are asked to endure punishment even if we have done no wrong, and to face insult and abuse without retaliation. In the gospel and the parable of the gate to the sheepfold, Jesus reminds us that He is the keeper of the gate, and he leads his flock to salvation, because his flock knows him and obeys him as their shepherd, and he protects them from harm.
Indeed, the early Christians had the freedom of choice, and they exercised their decision to follow Jesus after deliberating on the logic and the strength of the apostles’ arguments. But having made the decision to be a discipline, they were prepared to endure suffering without retaliation, pain without wrong, following on the example of Jesus. It would be difficult to be a follower of Christ and still be totally in-tuned to the ways and logic of this world. It would be foolish for us to assume that we can be a citizen of this world, to intuitively follow its secular values, and yet not expect to experience feelings of conflicts and discomfort when faced with difficult choices.
It would be too easy to follow business paradigms like “servant leadership” and forget that the Servant Leader dies …..… but He lives again! Sheep 1 – Wolves 0.
Drawing courtesy of ALWS ©
From, Of Sheep and Wolves, a reflection first contributed to The Apostle, a newsletter of the Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Singapore, Fourth Sunday of Easter 15 May 2011