A leader's mysterious power

A Lao Tzu quote from the Tao Te Ching: "To have without possessing---do without claiming,---lead without controlling: this is mysterious power."

And, indeed, leadership is much more an art than something that can be learned from a book, although millions of books have been written on the subject. And like any art leadership evolves from a "mysterious power" of creativity, practice, and paying attention to the world around you. For us religious leaders who have been taught how to solve problems rather than how to move with agility and foresight into dilemmas that don't have ready-made solutions, what a gift to let go of the kind of control that dampens creativity and urges action too soon. So sit back, relax, gather your wits and the other people who have a stake in this ministry, and think together about the future with its promises and obstacles.