I have never sailed on a cruise ship, but I recall seeing one boarding in Tampa last July while we were there for General Synod 28. That vessel was huge with a water park on the top deck. It looked so secure and safe. What a safe place to take a family vacation and escape, for a time, from the perils of life! What could possibly go wrong?
Late Friday, we got the news that the Costa Concordia had run aground off the coast of Italy. There were some 4,200 passengers on board. Miraculously most were able to escape, but some did not. A carefree vacation on a huge--seemingly invincible ship--suddenly turned tragic.
I wonder what might have caused Captain Francesco Schettino to steer his great ship so close to those treacherous rocks, allowing them to rip a 160-foot hole in his ship and putting his passengers in great peril? And, if what is alledged is really true, what motivated the captain to abandon ship before those in his charge were in lifeboats and secure? This is a sad story of a failure of leadership on so many levels. Certainly, more will be told as the story unfolds in the days and weeks to come.
This tragedy--this failure of leadership--stands in sharp contrast to the story of Captain Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger who landed his crippled US Airways plane on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The story is told of Sullenberger making his way down the plane's aisle and back to make ensure all his passengers were safely off the plane before he exited to wait with them on the plane's wing to be rescued.
This also makes me think about church leadership and the responsibility that rests with those of us who are called to give leadership and to care for Christ's church. It is no coincidence, I think, that the church has often been depicted as a boat. Those called to positions of leadership have a duty to care for the others who sail on the ship with them. There is a need for pastors and teachers to set a course that is faithful to the Gospel. There is a need to understand one's congregants and to treat them with due respect and compassion. Faithful leadership requires a willingness to sacrifice self for the sake of our sisters and brothers, and for all others for whom Christ died. Denominational leadership, too, is about putting one's life on the line--especially for the vulnerable and poor--who share the journey with us. Pastoral leadership is a sacred responsibility that carries an implicit vow not to abandon one's charges in the face of trouble and even death.
I think tonight of Jesus, who was no stranger to storms and troubled seas. He still promises never to leave us desolate, orphaned and alone. Rather, he promises to come, to seek us out, to share the trouble with us, and to raise us up to new life. "Help of the helpless, O abide with me!"
I am grateful to be on his boat.
May his example inform and inspire my leadership.
Late Friday, we got the news that the Costa Concordia had run aground off the coast of Italy. There were some 4,200 passengers on board. Miraculously most were able to escape, but some did not. A carefree vacation on a huge--seemingly invincible ship--suddenly turned tragic.
I wonder what might have caused Captain Francesco Schettino to steer his great ship so close to those treacherous rocks, allowing them to rip a 160-foot hole in his ship and putting his passengers in great peril? And, if what is alledged is really true, what motivated the captain to abandon ship before those in his charge were in lifeboats and secure? This is a sad story of a failure of leadership on so many levels. Certainly, more will be told as the story unfolds in the days and weeks to come.
This tragedy--this failure of leadership--stands in sharp contrast to the story of Captain Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger who landed his crippled US Airways plane on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The story is told of Sullenberger making his way down the plane's aisle and back to make ensure all his passengers were safely off the plane before he exited to wait with them on the plane's wing to be rescued.
This also makes me think about church leadership and the responsibility that rests with those of us who are called to give leadership and to care for Christ's church. It is no coincidence, I think, that the church has often been depicted as a boat. Those called to positions of leadership have a duty to care for the others who sail on the ship with them. There is a need for pastors and teachers to set a course that is faithful to the Gospel. There is a need to understand one's congregants and to treat them with due respect and compassion. Faithful leadership requires a willingness to sacrifice self for the sake of our sisters and brothers, and for all others for whom Christ died. Denominational leadership, too, is about putting one's life on the line--especially for the vulnerable and poor--who share the journey with us. Pastoral leadership is a sacred responsibility that carries an implicit vow not to abandon one's charges in the face of trouble and even death.
I think tonight of Jesus, who was no stranger to storms and troubled seas. He still promises never to leave us desolate, orphaned and alone. Rather, he promises to come, to seek us out, to share the trouble with us, and to raise us up to new life. "Help of the helpless, O abide with me!"
I am grateful to be on his boat.
May his example inform and inspire my leadership.
No comments:
Post a Comment