Leadership is synonymous with brokenness and humility..

Dear Mandy,

Even as yesterday I was at leaders' meeting, and PS Roland and PS Eugene shared, I cannot help but agree with some of the things that were shared.

PS Roland shared his takeaways from the Bogota G12 Conference, and the quotes from John Maxwell truly resonated within me..

"Everything rises and falls on leadership."

"Leadership is not a value - it is a state of being."

PS Eugene's sharing truly made me even more reflective. He shared that "Leadership is about brokenness and humility". Sharing from Matthew 19:30, "³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." As I started to think more about it, I wondered... brokenness and humility are two separate nouns altogether. Where one is a state of being (brokenness), the other is actually a value (humility). And then the big question: what's the difference between the two?

A value is something internalised, and that shapes your character. So humility is something that you attempt to be in all spheres of life. But a state of being is not forever. It is seasonal? And it does not have a fixed time, but it does not go on as long as a value would. As such, if I were to put them in an analogy, a value is like the sky, and a state of being would be a particular seasons. Sometimes, a season goes beyond the expected 3 months, sometimes it is less than an expected 3 months. And so, brokenness is like that. We don't know how long it may be, or when it may begin, but it is seasonal, and we will come out of it stronger.

And it truly made me think.. How do we see leadership these days? A lot of people in this world have ended up taking it as a position of authority, and even gotten proud with it in the process. And it truly caused me to reflect about my outlook on leadership and authority.. Have I been proud? Taking my position as a leader for granted? And the truth is, I think there have been moments that I have been feeling that way. And so, in my quiet solitude last night before the Lord, I humbly told the Lord that "I don't know how best to lead. But I know You do. Teach me."

I believe God heard my prayer, and He will answer in His time. 

Perhaps in the last sharing on unity, and this sharing on leadership, I try to find the connection between both. In my devotion this morning, it was directing us to keep our brothers and sisters in prayer. Talking about "prayer is for the small things that worry us and for the big things that overwhelm us". So true.

So for us as leaders, what does it mean...? How can we as leaders work towards unity? 

I had two thoughts...

1) Seek first to understand, then to be understood

2) Check back to make sure that what you understand is what the speaker intends to convey.

It starts from sincere love, and seeking to understand and listen to what people have to say.

Perhaps the biggest question for me was, do I? 

I will be praying. =)

IPOD 2012.. a lesson on unity, family and love.

Dear Mandy,

In the events that have unfurled over the last few weeks, a lot of questions about unity seemingly creep into my mind.

What truly constitutes unity? That's probably the first question most people would have.
To me... I think I consider a community that seeks to edify, encourage and affirm. Of course, I believe that it also has one alignment in heart and purpose... To glorify God would be my ideal purpose. Imagine if everyone were to edify, affirm and encourage, without seeking self-gratification or being inward-looking half the time? It would be amazing, wouldn't it? Because everyone seeks to encourage, nobody would feel lonely; because everyone seeks to affirm, people would be happy; because everyone seeks to edify, people would be open to share. How beautiful!

 

The clouds at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Field

At IPOD 2012, NYP BB Primers sent a very small team of 14 people including Officers to participate. Essentially, we were the smallest Company represented today at IPOD 2012. And yet... I learnt so much from these lovely group of people.

 Team NYP

 The boys soccer team got thrashed badly in the group stages with 4-1, 4-1 and 3-0. The girls' Captain's Ball team made it to the 4th position. But through it all, I saw how both teams played for each other. They supported, they pushed themselves, and they truly gave their all. It wasn't much about winning. It was more of knowing what role they had to fulfill, and what they had to do in order for each other to be able to contribute to the success of the team.

Seeing how they rallied around each other when someone was injured. Taking additional time out from their lunchtime to support each other. Forsaking their rest time so they can cheer the other group on. And huddling together just so that they can draw strength from one another. When they were down, they started to cheer and encourage one another. It was a beautiful beautiful sight to behold.

And through it all, I cried when I debriefed them. I felt they played so well, that they truly deserved to get something away from it all. It's only the 2nd time I've openly shown my emotions to the Primers in tears.. but I somehow believe with all my heart that God taught them a lesson far more valuable than victory. That the process is sometimes more important than the end product.

They are a lovely bunch of people, and I know God has something great for them in store. I pray that this company will grow in size, but yet, always retaining that humble grounding.
That we are first and foremost a united family that seeks to edify, encourage and affirm, before we are a CCA in NYP.
That much, I believe is the mandate God has for NYP.

So imagine my heart's emotions when the I/C of the organising Committee for IPOD 2012, Olivia, smsed Jiejia to say that though we are not the biggest in number, but we have a one of a kind EXPLOSIVE passion and enthusiasm.
I knew, in my heart, that God has called NYP Primers to a new beginning- one that first began with love.

And so, I simply smiled.

Reminiscing about Canada..

Dear Mandy,

This is one reason why I love Canada so much. =)


Kudos to Angie for taking such a beautiful picture! =)