During a liberal arts course in my college, I made a group presentation with a title, Learning Leadership from Acquaintances. One of our group members’ acquaintances was a firefighter, and we decided to interview him with excitement, expecting to hear some dramatic stories or behind stories related to his job. But while interviewing him, we were disconcerted. His opinion on leadership wasn’t special. It was rather ordinary. While preparing the presentation after the interview, I was worried if I would do well with the story that is not special.
“The true leadership is revealed when we keep basics such as physical strength, strong mentality, and constant effort.”
I summarized the leadership required for a firefighter and went over it. It looked simple, but it wouldn’t have just come out.
A firefighter saves people in disaster sites, so physical strength is basically required. For this, constant exercise is essential. We cannot maintain physical strength by exercising once or twice.
How about strong mentality? In a life-threatening site, a choice or decision at a moment affects not only his life but also others’ lives. Without a strong mentality based on right vocational ethics, it is difficult to make a right decision. In order to develop mentality, firefighters look at their colleagues who are with them at every difficult situation, and remind themselves of pride of the group that they belong to in order to be awake.
Eventually, what the firefighter said was simple, but it was the definite answer. A great leadership is revealed not by a huge plan or by one’s great ability, but by keeping the basics. To keep the basics, there must be constant practices.
I looked back on myself if I had missed important things while preaching the gospel, looking for special know-how. The true gospel leadership does not come from a special personal ability. Practicing the basic virtues taught by God, with patience and endurance! That is the requirement of being a gospel leader.