This profoundly deep statement on leadership is attributed to William Henry Johnson, a free African-American who was said to be, in modern terminology, the personal assistant to Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of the United States of America, who is attributed with leading the nation through the Civil War, thus preserved the Union, as well as abolishing slavery, strengthening the federal government, and modernising their economy). There is no clear reason why Johnson said it, or when it was said; indeed, it is his only known quote.
It is profound, because it is a statement that cuts to the heart of being servant-like in leadership; it is profound because there is an acknowledgement of cost BUT no counting of the cost.
If it is to be, it is up to me. This ten-word sentence of two letter words could also be considered a summary of God’s part in the creation of the world and in the redemption of humankind. We owe our very existence to his love before all time and we owe our restored personal relationship with him to the very fact that God repeatedly, and individually, extended his grace to every single human being.
Ephesians 2:8-10. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
How did you come to a saving knowledge of Christ’s work for you? When did you become aware of the extraordinary magnificence of God’s created universe? At what time did you first become aware, and perhaps repeatedly so since then, of his miraculous work in a multitude of different circumstances?
As we gather with those we love at this time of year, where we celebrate with grateful hearts that God became human, with all the limits and vulnerabilities that go with it, and lived in community for about three decades – can I suggest you take a moment to contemplate what it is that you could do to live in the light of William H Johnson’s wise words?
If it is to be, it is up to me. God has extended his grace to us; we have much that blesses us. Our school, our church communities, where we live, the people we know. The stuff we have, the things we do, the experiences we have waiting for us.
What can we do to make a difference to those who need it? It could be a one-off act at Christmas time – a neighbourhood Christmas party that includes those with no families, a shift in a soup kitchen over the holiday period, random acts of kindness – no strings attached acts to strangers that make their lives a little easier. Or perhaps, a commitment to sponsor a child, become involved in a local tutoring program for asylum seeker youth, forward planning activities for adults and children in the family that bring greater awareness to inequality which begin the search for how this dynamic can be corrected. These suggestions are just the beginning … let you mind run free for a moment …
If it is to be, it is up to us. As a community, we are deeply blessed. An extraordinary group of students, with gifts in abundance, loved and cherished within Christian households. I am convinced we have been placed where we are, doing what we do, because God has called us to take the initiative beyond our gates; to be a model of what God’s community can be – a light for him on the hill, as it were. I look forward to what our discussions as a community next year, as we explore this call on our collective life together.
May God bless each family, and all its members, this Christmas season. May safety, great times and moments of grace be yours in abundance.
Luke 2:13-14. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
educating 4 life, too 
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