Warning: I’m going to blog about Boris. But please note I’m not going to make any comment whatsoever about him in what follows, I was just interested in the message being shared as I listened to him yesterday morning making his first speech to the nation after falling ill.
His language was somewhat war like, rallying the troops, being bullish about achievements in the conflict so far and giving directions to us as this thing is not over by a long way.
“But once again I want to thank you, the people of this country, for the sheer grit and guts you have shown and are continuing to show.”
“If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger, which I can tell you from personal experience it is, then this is the moment when we have begun to wrestle it to the floor.”
“I ask you to contain your impatience.”
I have sensed over the last week as I’ve watched the government press briefings, the people coming out each night have been waiting for Boris to appear as they were dithering with their answers to the questions. Yesterday morning out he came into Downing Street, gave us his unique style of bullish optimism, warned us we have to keep the lockdown going and then turned Churchillian! I almost expected “we will fight it on the beaches” - what we got was “ the United Kingdom will emerge stronger than ever before.”
Boris shook his fists a lot as he delivered this tub thumping speech to us, alright, there wasn’t a lot of substance, there was no detailed plan, no addressing of the things that haven’t been handled well, but love him or loathe him, we know now he is back! Mind you, I suspect he went for a lie down afterwards. We got Matt Hancock again last night, who does look straight at the cinema and look strict. Priti Patel looks straight at the camera and looks scary. They only bring her out on a Saturday to tell us shoplifting crime have gone down. Perhaps no one has told her all the shops are shut!
I’ve been reflecting on when it is right in leadership first to tub thump, to try and encourage those who you want to follow you, and then give them the details. I always like at church councils to say a few words about what is going well because part of leadership has to be motivating people. If we are constantly criticised or it is all negative from the leader to us, then we will be demoralised. We need to get people on side if we are leaders, but there is also a place for discipline and hard words. Very often, leaders will not be popular. I’ve been there a lot! The nasty letters hurt. But sometimes the hard word has to be said or the difficult direction followed to enable a better future.
I’ve been thinking today about Jesus making a statement in a crisis to rally the masses. He turned the concept of leadership on its head. True leadership is not about power it is about enabling life for others, it is about serving not ego trips. Jesus would say today have courage, I know you are suffering, good will triumph, this will pass. I am with you.” Jesus would say “be kind to each other and to yourself. I know this isn’t easy.”
Jesus showed true leadership not just through motivational words but through action. He would be big on righting injustices during this crisis.
Those who are taking our food parcels, acting as buddies to the lonely, raising money to keep charities afloat, enabling church to be there still for people, befriending the bereaved, weeping with the broken,he’d be there. The figures released this morning of the numbers dying in care homes is shocking. I can’t see those of us who are vulnerable or elderly going anywhere soon. The Telegraph this morning has interviews with those over 70 saying “you can’t keep me in much longer.” But how on earth you let some out and keep some in I just don’t know. But that’s for another day.
Jesus washed feet. I read this recently:
”Jesus washed the feet of his disciples even during his most trying time. Great leaders today see themselves as serving their teams--equipping, encouraging and coaching them to realize their potential. Leadership is about others, not you. Great leaders balance conviction with compassion.”
My beloved college principal, Graham Slater used to turn up to assess our preaching. He used to ask “where was your clincher, young man?” He wanted to hear how the message might be applied. We need to see messages put into practice. I love the answer John the Baptist gets from Jesus given to those sent to see if Jesus might the one who is to come.
“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
I said I wouldn’t comment on Boris, but we need to see practical examples of how the words we heard yesterday will be put into practice to enable us to return to some sort of normal one day. Or even start to live with what some people are calling the “new normal.” I wouldn’t want his job for all the money in the world. Whether we like him or not, he and his government need our prayers. We will contain our patience for now, we will continue to show grit and guts and we hope this awful virus will indeed be finally wrestled to the floor, never to get up again.
A little ps: maybe we need to look to the other side of the world to a country whose leader cared for them after a terrorist attack and now has guided them through coronavirus with few deaths and now saying the thing has almost been eradicated. Here are two quotes from that leader:
”Getting stopped in the middle of the lingerie section, when you're trying to stock up on a few things, by an older man who wants a selfie is a little bit awkward... but I don't let that get in the way of me trying to do normal things, because that is when I get to interact with people as well. Preferably not amongst the underwear, though.”
“Everything I've ever thought about doing has been, in some sense, about helping people.”
Jacinda Ardern is an inspiration. With her people she shows compassionate leadership. She looks at one with her people. Like she cares! Recently she shared this kiwi poem by Nadine Anne Hura as we give mother earth a well deserved opportunity to heal. I like it (and her) a lot.
We’ll not move upon you
For awhile
We’ll stop, we’ll cease
We’ll slow down and stay home
Draw each other close and be kind
Kinder than we’ve ever been.
I wish we could say we were doing it for you
as much as ourselves
But hei aha
We’re doing it anyway
It’s right. It’s time.
Time to return
Time to remember
Time to listen and forgive
Time to withhold judgement
Time to cry
Time to think
About others
Remove our shoes
Press hands to soil
Sift grains between fingers
Gentle palms
Time to plant
Time to wait
Time to notice
To whom we belong
For now it’s just you
And the wind
And the forests and the oceans and the sky full of rain
Finally, it’s raining!
Ka turuturu te wai kamo o Rangi ki runga i a koe
Embrace it
This sacrifice of solitude we have carved out for you
He iti noaiho – a small offering
People always said it wasn’t possible
To ground flights and stay home and stop our habits of consumption
But it was
It always was.
We were just afraid of how much it was going to hurt
– and it IS hurting and it will hurt and continue to hurt
But not as much as you have been hurt.
So be still now
Wrap your hills around our absence
Loosen the concrete belt cinched tight at your waist
Rest.
Breathe.
Recover.
Heal –
And we will do the same.
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