DEAR YOGESHREE
You may have gathered the last letter I wrote you was not finished. I was interrupted and toward the end somewhat hastily tried to tie together the ends of the thought it pursued.
It had to do with a contrast in the way we experience and recognise leaders. Those who lead from the front seem to get all the acknowledgement but there are those who lead "from the middle" or, "from behind"..... the hidden leaders, most often not recognised at all, or sometimes even regarded as soft , or foolish.
The Comrades Marathon was an metaphor for those who come out in the front as winners, and those who run their own race helping others with theirs. Who are the real heroes? . ....leading by very special examples of a world as it should be?
The winner of the Comrades Marathon that year said " I know that I am the best", and this does seem to be a trend. People who lead from the front have an uncanny sense of their own genius, They don't seem to mask the fact. They know what they have and what they can achieve. In a true leader, it doesn't come across as arrogance or pride but as a simple knowing of who they are and the responsibility this imposes on them to lead from the front.
In in rare moments there are some leaders who lead from the front and from behind
In the book by Robert H. Schuller, called, Life's Not Fair, But God is Good (Struik 1993),there is a story of two young men who entered military school for the prescribed trial period for final acceptance. It was a particularly prestigious school and the entrance requirements were tough. Both wanted desperately to be accepted and worked very hard at gaining the minimum requirements for entry. One of these was a requirement that they run a battery of athletic events with a minimum cut off time in each. It was a series of events involving both sprints and long distances. A test of speed and stamina.
The first of the two young men, in the practises, showed that he would easily meet all the reqirements. He was able t sprint and managed the long distances with ease. He was showing himself to be a fine athlete, clearly one who already would be an athletic star in te College.
The second was an equally good candidate in the sprints, but somehow, he struggled in the one mile event.Try as he may in the practises he couldn't make the cut-off time. He was always the first out onto the field building up his stamina and strength, but in that one event, it still didn't look too promising
The two young men became friends and would train together.
When the day for the final runs for entry into the College came, the two young men gained entry for their efforts in the sprints. Then came the last qualifying event..... the mile. It started well. The first young man out in front as usual and the second lagging further and further behind. Our leading fellow watched his friend as he came into the final lap of the four lap event. He was already well in front and his place in the College was secure. All he had to do was to finish the lap. As usual his friend was struggling.
Then it happened. Toward the last straight home, the young man in the lead stopped. He walked back to his friend and took up a position at his shoulder, then he fell into he stride and pace of his struggling comrade running with him stride for stride and encouraging him as they went. In this way they went over the finishing line together. It was a humbling and moving moment. For the leader from the front everything was at stake. Now he was a leader from behind.
The Comrades Marathon has a lot to teach us about leadership. Some in life lead from the front. some from behind. Our young man did both. Thers exists among true leaders a sense that an external inspiration moves them to be what they are, but moves them often to be what, on their own, they are not..... or could be.
,,,,,,,,,,,and so it is with child and youth care workers
The story is true.
I am told they both made entry into the College.
Love
Barrie
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