Vision From a Mountain Top
This is a personal blog post inspired by Martin Luther Jr. Day, and the Liberal Party Convention just held in Ottawa.
These two events gave me cause to reflect on leadership and vision. So if you’ll forgive my ramble, here’s the result of that.
The Liberal Party of Canada held its Convention in Ottawa where it was hoped to breath new life in a once proud party that got its ego deflated and ass kicked in the last election.
Although this wasn’t a leadership convention, “leadership” was all the buzz.
Who had the charisma and vision to lead the party out of the wilderness?
Would it be the interim leader, Bob Rae who definitely has the political chops but some say is a bit long in the tooth. (I personally take offence to that.)
Or should it be someone younger that will breath new life into the party and be around to see it through.
- as if the vision of a party was tied to the life expectancy of it’s leader.
The other event, was Martin Luther King Jr. day which is celebrated today in the States.
Here was a leader whose vision was for a better and fairer future. He didn’t have to pass that vision through a advisory committee, he didn’t have to break down his speech into 15 second sound bites, he didn’t have to appeal to liberals or conservatives because he shared his vision directly with the people.
We seem to be starved for hero’s these days. We make election choices based on who sucks the least and who will get us through the next four years without dragging us into another election.
Our moral leaders from the religious and sports worlds, appear in more scandal sheets (blogs) than the Kardashians.
The Barbarians are at the gate and our politicians are sending us to open the door.
In Canada, as in elsewhere in the West, we seem to be electing National CEO’s, whose vision extends only to the next quarter.
Real leaders have a strong sense of stewardship. They see further than most of us – which is why they’re called visionaries.
We all can’t be giants, but if we stand tall enough to look beyond our immediate tasks, we’ll be able to see when the next visionary comes along.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave the famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the day before he was assassinated in Memphis on April 4th, 1968.
Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
- Martin Luther King Jr
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