We live in a celebrity-soaked culture that turns our values upside down. In the last week of June 2009 Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop' died. Thanks to our 24-hour cable news cycle the world watched every detail surrounding his tragic and premature death. Later in the week we could tune in to watch his memorial service in the packed out Staples Center in Los Angeles.
But few of us took notice of another death that week. Ken Reusser, age 89 died in Clackamus, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. Colonel Reusser was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam----and the most highly decorated Marine Corps aviator in American history. In three wars he flew over 250 combat missions, earned 59 medals and decorations including two Navy Crosses and five Purple Hearts. At his memorial service this committed Christian and son of pastor was remembered by his family, friends and community. A Marine Corps Honor Guard was present for a final "Semper Fi" otherwise his death went largely unreported.
That contrast is a commentary on our times. We live in a celebrity soaked culture that has turned many of our values upside down. But there is some good news. First, we are not the first culture to turn itself upside down. Twenty-eight hundred years ago a man named Isaiah spoke to a culture much like ours, at least in this regard. The problem was that the people of his day were looking for leadership but settling for celebrity. His word to them is recorded for us in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 32:8 where he challenges the people to reject celebritism and search for noble leaders. He states: .....a noble person plans noble things; he stands up for noble causes.' Tragically, many refused to listen and their nation and culture suffered. Secondly, the good news is that noble leaders can be found in just about every place in our culture.
How do we define noble leadership. I believe noble leaders demonstrate five qualities:
Noble leaders are people with character. Our character is developed by what we dwell on, think about, what we feed our minds. It is honed and shaped by persevering through life's difficulties and problems. Though we may live in a fast-food, microwave culture our character is shaped and revealed over time, day after day, week after week, and year after year----as we face whatever life brings our way. Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, a man of great character once said: 'Things work out for the best for those who make the best out of the way things work out.'
Noble leaders are people of consequence. Noble leaders do more than big things, they do the right things. They also get the important things in life right: priorities, relationships, responsibilities and investing in the lives of others. Noble leaders mentor others and leave a legacy of leadership. Recently I had a conversation about two noble leaders of consequence from my past. Both taught me in elementary school. It was a long time ago but their influence still impacts me just about everyday. Mrs. Newman was my fourth grade reading teacher. She left me with a legacy as a lover of books! Mr. Shelley was my fifth grade teacher. He taught me how to write. These are skills I use everyday. They were never famous or wealthy but they loved what they did and had a great consequence not just in my own life but countless others.
Noble leaders act with conviction. Noble leaders have timeless values and convictions. They also understand when to do battle and when not to. Noble leaders know when it's time to stand up! You can't stand up if all you do is 'stew in a pew.' Noble leaders know when to sit down. Noble leaders know when to speak up. Noble leaders know when to shut up. Noble leaders don't just curse the darkness around them. They act. They do something. They get to work!
Noble leaders speak and act with clarity. We live in a culture that is crowded and noisy. We can be overloaded with too much information. A story is told about President Harry Truman once asked for a one-handed economist! When an aide asked him why, he said he was tired of his economic advisors telling him: 'On one hand this might happen, but on the other hand it could be that this occurs!' Noble leaders speak and act with clarity. They say what they mean and mean what they say. How can we do this? The late Stephen Covey taught me this years ago: Seek first to understand then seek to be understood. That's what noble leaders do.
Noble leaders serve with courage. Winston Churchill, a leader of great courage once said, 'Courage is the greatest of all the virtues because it guarantees all the others.' Noble leaders face their own problems, difficulties, challenges and realities with courage. The Apostle Paul challenged the church in Corinth to: 'Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong. Your every action must be done with love.' (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Noble leaders can act with courage because they are a 'velvet brick.' The understand compromise is at times necessary. They also know when not to.
Late in his second term, President Ronald Reagan was in Berlin to deliver a speech at the Brandenburg Gate, divinding East and West Germany, between dictatorship and freedom. On his way to the site in his presidential limosine some of his advisors wanted him to tone down the speech and in fact edit out some of the comments. The president listened patiently to their arguments. But he stood firm, telling them 'The speech will not be changed.' He courageously refused.
Two years later, the people of East Berlin and eastern Europe were free of communism and totalitarianism. Why? Because a noble and visionary leader kept his speech like it had originally been written. He told the world, "Mr. Gorbachev, if you seek peace, tear down this wall!'
Thank God he was a leader with courage!
What do you think? Are there other actions of noble leaders? Let the conversation begin.
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