Leadership that defies explanation
This blog is for you to think about, and ultimately choose a leader that in your way of thinking about leadership is an outlier. The term outlier in this case means to exist outside rational thought regarding leadership. Perhaps such an example would be Abraham Lincoln. How many of his contemporizes would have predicted in 1845 that Lincoln would be considered one of, if not the greatest of all American presidents? If I recall correctly (yes, I could just fact check here, but that takes the fun out of working with memory) Mr. Lincoln had a difficult time getting elected to anything, he was married to an unusual woman who enjoyed a good séance as well as any of our first ladies, and from some historical accounts they could have filmed the movie Paranormal Activity in the White House during the years he was there....wait a minute, this is President Reagan....but you get the point. Presently it could be argued that we have political actors on the national stage that fit well within this genre. While not identifying any of these specific politicians I will offer that it is possible that both major political parties would have its share of Oscar nominees in several of the major political actor categories. This can be good, it can be bad, and it can be incredibly goofy. But, evidently one person’s goof is another person’s proof. Not sure what that means, but we do have some really odd political characters these days. But, hey, history has its share as well. So, think of one and share. They do not have to be goofy, they can be profound, just unexpected by who they were/are, or what they did/do.
Mine is Joan of Arc. I have a long standing fascination with this leader. This is not to be confused with the notion that I have a comprehensive historical understanding of her, but I think I have enough of the major points down that indicate she was not your average early 1400s leader. She was poor, she was French, she had no followers on Facebook, and she didn’t put on a wig and turn into Joanna Montana. Rather she was a peasant, a girl, and someone who claimed to have visions from God.
But before we pass this off as lunacy, as the English would later do as they burned her at the stake at a tender age of 19 let’s consider a few other facts. Before the English burned her at the stake she somehow managed to lead French army to several major victories over them during the Hundred Years War. But, legend has it she still threw like a girl. Just don’t tell that to the Englishmen who fell from the hand that threw like a girl.
Still, isn’t it amazing that she did all that she did and we still can’t explain it. I mean, why would seasoned solders follow a teen aged girl into combat? And, if she did, how is it possible that she lead them to victory? I don’t recall her attending la West a’Pointa? And, the Citadel was not accepting girls into their freshman class then. And, for this business of talking to God, is there anyone ready to tell me for sure she didn’t? I mean that would explain a lot. Actually that would explain it all, but it would not be without its own share of problems, just ask John Denver. There will be bonus points for those of you who connect the dots that lead from Joan of Arc to John Denver. I mean it’s not like Joan lived in almost Heaven, my home state of West Virginia. And let me close by mentioning Joan is the subject of some great music nearly 200 years after her death at the hands of the non believing English. Two of my personal favorite singer/songwriters, Leonard Cohen and Kate Bush, wrote compelling songs about her.
But, I leave you with this image from the poetry of J. Walden Elliott
The Chosen Joan
By J. Walden Elliott
The battle is subsiding, many are bleeding, more are dying.
Joan is alone and crying.
Tears not of weakness, but tears of compassionate strength.
Not death to the English, or death to the French,
instead the unfortunate of humanity dancing helpless on her sword
that tis blessed by the Hand of the Lord..
While in her head remains the ringing, all of the singing,
the bells yet toiling, the blood set flowing
as the maiden hears the voice that whispers among the shouts
saying go forward my Chosen, accept you can’t stop the suffering,
or still the doubts.
Yes, ever forewarned and forever forward cries the Lord.
A Lord not of the rings, a Lord not of things,
But a Lord of vengeance and saving grace
that choose to look upon the face
that leaves the dead to the dying and the dying to the dead,
and the visions of salvation in a young girls head.
And amide the furry of the fire
And of the longing desire
Only to be Joan.
Joan, sweet Joan.
Leading and leaving you so alone.
amide the furry of the fire
quenching the longing desire.
Tag you’re it.
