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I love the work of Theodore Geisel. Dr. Seuss, as he is better known, wrote a
large collection of wonderful children’s books, many of which are quite
instructive for adults as well. One of
his most whimsical books is If I Ran the
Zoo, a story about what a young boy would do if he managed the local zoo.
As one would anticipate by the title, the book contains the
ideas that the main character would pursue given the authority. We learn that young Gerald McGrew would spend
his time seeking and acquiring a large collection of the most outlandish
animals imaginable, much to the acclaim of zoo visitors.
With all due respect to Mr. Geisel, I respectfully disagree
with the premise of his book. You see,
there are many days when I feel like I am running a small zoo. Two cats, a puppy, and frequent doggie guests
can easily make our home look—and sound—like a zoo. At those times, when I am running the zoo,
the last thing on my mind is collecting exotic specimens in order to impress
visitors. I am too busy filling food
bowls, changing water, scooping litter boxes, collecting dog poop, engaging in
and monitoring play, brushing coats, cleaning eyes and ears, administering
medicine, and brushing teeth (yes, dogs and cats benefit from having their
teeth brushed regularly). And, let’s not
forget visits to the vet, bathing (dogs only on this one!) and laundering pet
bedding.
I believe that my experience in “running a zoo” is a helpful
illustration of Biblical leadership.
Christ, as our Lord and Savior, Master and Model, is the quintessential
example of the servant leader. The
Biblical model of leadership is not about being the boss or impressing
onlookers, but about meeting needs and empowering those under us to be who God
created them to be. This is true even
for my pets. Unless I meet their needs,
they will not be able to be good pets.
Cesar Milan, the “dog whisperer,” insists on the importance of
encouraging a puppy to have lots of opportunities to engage in “dog behavior”
in order to become a “well-balanced” dog and satisfying companion.
September is the “back to school” season, the time when we
turn from the more relaxed attitude of summer to focus on the work before
us. As we do so, I believe it would be
helpful to bear in mind that most of us are, in some way, shape, or form, a
leader. As leaders, we have the
incredible privilege of following our Master’s example. By the power of His Holy Spirit, we can grow
to be servant leaders who humbly meet needs and empower those “under” and
around us to fulfill God’s purposes for them.
It seems to me that such a focus is far more satisfying than acquiring a
“Mulligatawny” or a “Thwerll” in order to garner admiration.
A final comment: Theodore Geisel knew quite a bit about
leadership and leaders. For an excellent
and encouraging example, you might want to read, Bartholomew and the Oobleck.
