My teenage son is a fan of The Apprentice, a format that has been repeated for 18 seasons in the UK with more-or-less the same challenges each year. For all the time it has been running, it’s never a surprise to discover the difficulty that people have in working together, the way that smart people can totally get their numbers wrong, or the way, in the boardroom, that contestants often point the finger and say, ‘well she was the Project Manager, so ultimately the failure of the task lies with her’. Working on group projects, I often pick up from students, can be the source of some stress. Who is responsible if one person doesn’t do their work, or complete it on time? How do you know if everyone is contributing equally, or how do you work together if you disagree? For these reasons, I imagine that a lot of people want to avoid ‘project manager’ type roles. Who would want to put themselves through that?
Being a good leader requires a multitude of skills; listening, courage, vision, bringing people together, spotting the gifts in your team. I have no doubt that the University of Bath is helping to prepare a huge number of current and future leaders in all sorts of arenas. But how do we know when leadership is required of us and how do we best respond?
I was noticing this week in the book of Acts that in the last encounter Jesus has with his followers before the ascension, he is actually relieving them of some of the burden of responsibility. They are (naturally) concerned to know what is going to happen next and if Jesus will establish his kingdom in the way that they expect. But he says:
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” (Acts 1: 7)
To me it feels like he is saying not to worry about the details. He’s lifting the burden of knowing the future and specific outcomes from their shoulders. It’s not up to them to make this happen.
However, he goes on to given them a different kind of responsibility:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)
The task that the followers are being given is simply to bear witness to what they have experienced, and for this they will be helped: they will not be on their own.
It can sometimes be tempting for us to think that everything relies on our efforts. However, the challenge that Jesus gives his followers is simply to share what they have experienced, beyond their normal circles of influence, beyond where they are comfortable, to wherever in the world they are led. When I think of the incredibly multi-talented, interesting, and committed students that I meet each week, my hope for the future increases. This isn’t to place the burden of solving the world’s many problems on their shoulders. It’s simply because I can see that, empowered by the Spirit, their lives will naturally overflow with love and grace and truth, no matter in the world they end up.
Karen Turner
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