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STAND ON HUMBLE GROUNDGrowing as Servant Leaders

Bubble of the Month— Stand on Humble GroundFebruary & March 2014

In the book Humilitas, John Dickson defines humility as the “noble choice to redirect your power in service of others” or the “willingness to hold power in service of others.” Humility has a lot to do with Servant Leadership! At L’Arche, each person is called to be a leader towards the Identity and Mission. The “Stand on Humble Ground” section of the Servant Leadership Model (attached at the end of the newsletter) invites you to “realize the freedom and trust that come when you lead from a place of truth and acceptance.” This newsletter explores these themes as they relate to leading others and to personal growth towards humility.

There are many links to articles and websites through this news-

letter. Click on the blue text to follow the links.

Thank you to Jenn Power, L’Arche Cape Breton and Atlantic Re-gional Leader and Shonna Kurkilahti, L’Arche Lethbridge for your contributions to this newsletter.

The next newsletters are: • April & May – Open to Mutual Relationship

• June, July & August – Fulfill your Role in Community

If you have any comments or would like to provide input for future newsletters please email: growingasservantleaders@larche.ca

“Within the Circle” – Sometimes leaders think they need to lead from “above” those they are leading. They think they need to be perfect, powerful, separate, in control, controlling and the best. Other leaders lead from “within the circle” of those they are leading. They think they can be vulnerable, make mistakes, be known and know others, follow the lead of others, and allow the common mission to be the moti-vation. Find a partner. Act out one of these leadership styles: “above the circle” or “within the circle”. Everyone else guesses what kind of a leader you are acting. Discuss the challenges and rewards for each kind of leader. Discuss the challenges and rewards for those they are leading.

Plant Yourself – Build your own pipe cleaner person. See if you can make your person stand on top of something

tall where they will be noticed. Are they falling over? It can be tricky to balance up there on your own. Bring your person back down to earth. Plant your person’s feet in some earth (or rice). Can they stand up now? Try joining the hands of all of the pipe cleaner people in a circle. Can your person stand when they are supported by others? What does it mean for you to live and lead with your feet planted on the ground? What does it mean for you to live and lead from within the circle?

“Stand on Humble Ground” Stories – Look at Jamie’s Story on the next page of the newsletter. Write and share a brief story for each member of the

home or program. Describe a time that each person brought L’Arche to life. In what ways were they leading with hu-mility? Accepting? Sincere? Authentic?

Leading from their passion and gifts? Leading from their vulnerability? Fol-lowing the lead of others? Inviting oth-ers along? Share these stories. Reflect together on what you have learned from these leaders who surround you.

Spring Planting in “Humus” – Now is the time to plant seeds that can grow indoors and be ready for planting outside your home or program in the spring. Buy some good potting soil and seeds that will grow indoors. As you plant, run your hands through the earth. Did you know the Latin word for earth is humus? This is the root for the word humble. It calls us to be “grounded”, to be “from the earth”, to be “low.” As you watch your seeds grow, appreciate the inspiration of the humus.

Homes, Programs & Community Gatherings

Welcome...

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“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace,

because you know what you are. If you are blamed, you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint, you will not put yourself on a pedestal.” ~ Mother Teresa “A leader is best when people barely know he

exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” ~ Lao Tzu – 6th century BC Chinese philosopher and father of Taoism

“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” ~ Saint Augustine – 4th century Christian theologian

What do Pope Francis, Francis of Assisi and Jean Vanier have in common? Humility, argues Jim Coyle of the Toronto Star.Click here to read the Toronto Star article.

Jean Vanier: A humble friend By Martha Bala

How to convey the essence of this physically and metaphorically giant of a man, who reaches out directly and without ceremony, to touch each of us in the place we feel

most vulnerable, with acceptance and love? How is he able to do this, without our fragile selves closing up in fear, panic and rejection of his approach? How is it that people of all sizes, shapes, colours, races, origins, nationalities and beliefs are touched by him, and drawn to him, and feel understood by and close to him?Read the rest of this article from the Jean Vanier website

Jean Vanier Quotes on Humility

“The beauty of human beings lies in their capacity to accept who they are, just as they are; not to live in a world of dreams or illusions, in anger or despair, wanting to be other than they are, or trying to run away from reality. They realize that they have the right to be themselves. And there, they discover that they are loved by God, that they are unique and important for God and that they can do things for others. We may not all be called to do great things that make the headlines, but we are all called to love and be loved, wherever we may be. We are called to be open and to grow in love and thus to communicate life to others, especially to those in need.” –

Jean Vanier, Seeing Beyond Depression “A community is only being created when its members accept that they are not going to achieve great things, that they are not going to be heroes, but simply live each day with new hope, like children, in wonderment as the sun rises and in thanksgiving as it sets. Community is only being created when they have recognized that the greatness of humanity lies in the acceptance of our insignificance, our human condition and our earth.” – Jean Vanier, Community and Growth“A poor person has a mysterious power: in his weakness he is able to open hardened hearts and reveal the sources of living waters within them. It is the tiny hand of the fearless child which can slip through the bars of the prison of egoism. He is the one who can open the lock and set free. And God hides himself in the child.” – Jean Vanier, Community and Growth“Envy is one of the plagues that destroys community. It comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts. If we were confident in our own gift we would not envy that of others.” – Jean Vanier, Community and Growth “We become peacemakers when we are no longer struggling for power, to be at the top, but just working to serve each other... We cannot all do big things, but all of us can kneel at each other’s feet and say, ‘I trust you and I believe in you.’” – Jean Vanier, Encountering ‘the Other’“People may come to our communities because they want to serve the poor; they will only stay once they have discovered that they themselves are the poor.” – Jean Vanier, From Brokenness to Community“It takes time to grow to a maturity of the heart. ... Little by little, as we live and work with others, especially if we are well-guided, we learn to break out of the shell of selfishness and self-centredness where we seek to be brilliant and to prove our goodness, wisdom and power. We receive and give the knocks of life. We all have to discover that there are others like us who have gifts and needs; no one of us is the centre of the world. We are a small but important part in our universe. We all have a part to play. We need one another.” – Jean Vanier, Becoming Human“The heart is never ‘successful.’ It does not want power, honours, privilege, or efficiency; it seeks a personal relationship with another, a communion of hearts, which is the to-and-fro of love. This opening of the heart implies vulnerability and the offering of our needs and weaknesses. The heart gives and receives but above all, it gives. The heart goes out to those who are humble and who cry out in their weakness and their need for understanding and love. It is the human heart and its need for communion that weakens the walls of ideology and prejudice. It leads us from closedness to openness, from illusion of superiority to vulnerability and humility. Because of this, instead of finding security in the group, we find it in our hearts, which have found a new inner strength, a real maturity.” – Jean Vanier, Becoming Human

An Intellectual Engagement

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Jamie’s Story – Reflection by Jenn Power, Atlantic Regional Leader

It has been about a year since Jamie first arrived at L’Arche Cape Breton. Sturdily built and well over six feet tall, Jamie is a gentle giant. He is generous and sincere, eager to know others and also to be known. He is a community builder.When Jamie finished high school, he saw his peers moving on with their lives – getting jobs, having girlfriends, moving into their own places. In Jamie’s words, “I didn’t want to live with my parents forever. I love them and everything but I want to learn how to be independent. Every one of my friends is doing it. I’m probably not going to be just like them but I want to be as close as I can to them.”In a recent CBC radio interview, Jamie was asked what was the highlight of his starring role in the L’Arche Cape Breton Christmas production of “The Three Kings”. While he admitted to being excited about acting, having a

vocal solo, and being on stage, he noted that what he appreciated most about his theatrical debut was “just doing it together.” In front of the audience on the day of the show, when talking about his first year at L’Arche, Jamie talked excitedly about meeting “German people, Indian people Kenyan people….but most importantly just a lot of friendly people.”Jamie’s first L’Arche birthday celebration was “80’s Karaoke” at Corinthian House. He relaxed on the couch, surrounded by an eclectic group of new friends, while the music played in the background and the words to Eye of The Tiger and other classics were projected on the living room wall. We all struggled through a few verses of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, by Tears for Fears, and then Jamie requested “Who Made Who” by ACDC. Without moving from the couch, Jamie belted out the most authentic, unrestrained, ear-splitting version of that rock classic that any of us had ever heard! There was not a trace of

self-consciousness, nor any need to be in the spotlight. There was just a guy singing a song he loved, surrounded by people with whom he felt completely at ease.After almost 20 years in L’Arche, I still have so much to learn. And this twenty-something year old, hard-rock loving, Sydney Mines man is one of my teachers. Jamie knows he doesn’t have all the answers. He knows he needs help and he accepts it with grace. He celebrates the good in others and in himself, and in so doing he creates goodness in the community. Jamie stands on humble ground.

What is the importance and significance of the Washing of Feet at L’Arche? How does it celebrate the value of humility in our communities?

The following are excerpts from a 1998 meditation that Jean Vanier shared with Bishops of the Anglican Church on the Meaning of the Washing of Feet.

“This is the downward road of Jesus -- going down and down and down. And he calls us to walk with him in that downward path.”

“And we know that it is not easy servant leadership -- to really give ourselves to others; to help each one to rise up; to know when to make decisions. It is difficult.”

“And Jesus, as he kneels at our feet, is saying, “I want you to exercise your authority in love.” As a good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. Exercise authority with tenderness and love. Exercise authority in truth and in forgiveness.”

“Jesus insists and says we are called to wash each other’s feet. Obviously this is symbolic. Jesus is saying that we must be, all of us together, must be servants of one and other -- serving each other, empowering each other.”

“So Jesus is saying something about communion -- how to be with each other with words that are not flowing from our woundedness, our darkness, and our need for power and superiority, but from a desire for oneness.”

“We are all called to be small. ‘The camel cannot go through the eye of the needle.’ But we who carry authority and power, in some way we are called to be like little children. And we are called to serve each other in rectitude and in truth as Jesus. And as we become small, then maybe we can go through the eye of the needle.”

Which of the Jean Vanier quotes call you toward growth in humility? See quotes in Intellectual Engagement section

How is Jean Vanier a humble leader? Find someone in the community who knows Jean. Ask them to share their experience of his leadership style. In what ways is his style a strength? In what way is it a challenge? How does it compare with what Martha Bala describes in the Intellectual Engagement section?

Leadership, Team Meetings, Training

Jamie Stewart, L’Arche Cape-Breton

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In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins argues that the key ingredient that allows a company to become great is having a Level 5 leader. This is a leader in whom genuine personal humility blends with intense professional will. Read more about Collin’s book here.

• DoyouagreewithCollin’sconclusionaboutthekeyingredientfordistinctiveleadership?• WhatcanyoulearnaboutleadingwithhumilityfromL’Arche?• WhatcanyoulearnaboutbeingahumbleorservantleaderfromthelifeandexampleofJeanVanier?• HowareyouatrustedandhumbleleaderatL’Arche?• HowareyouatrustedandhumbleleaderbeyondL’Arche?

Board Meetings

Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Zechariah 9:9 See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Philippians 2:5-8 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! “Whoever is humble, God exalts him, and whoever is haughty, God humiliates him.” ~ Prophet Muhammad

When we live day after day with people who

are severely handicapped, our own limits and darkness become so obvious. But this experience helped me understand that we cannot grow in love and compassion unless, in all truth, we recognize who we are and accept our own radical poverty. The poor person is not just in others, but also within us. That truth is the basis of all human and spiritual growth and the foundation of our Christian life. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The poor, who reveal our poverty to us, thus become a sacrament. ~ Jean Vanier, An Ark for the Poor

Services

1. In the latest L’Arche e-publication, A Human Future, Jean Vanier advises each leader to take time for silence and “to see inside himself or herself the dangers that reside in wanting to have power, wanting to be stronger than others, and not really thinking about the gift that lies in their call.” He further advises leaders to “…reflect on the mission they are called to and be humble in front of that mission.” A Human Future: Jean Vanier on Leadership p.3

• In what ways is the desire for power and strength a challenge for you at L’Arche? Beyond L’Arche?

• How are you humble in front of the mission(s) you are called to?

2. Reflect on a leader you know personally who you consider a trusted and impactful leader. What can you learn from them?

• How do they lead with humility? How are they motivated by mission? In what ways are they generous? How are they genuine? How do they gain respect as a trusted leader? How are they transparent? How do they position themselves relative to others? How do they share their vulnerability?

3. How could you be a more inspiring, impactful and trusted leader by leading from “within the circle?”

Personal Growth

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