The Lesson I learned from John Kutumbo

 

Some years ago I was privileged to accompany a group headed to Nairobi where they were teaching a number of Kenyan pastors studying towards their Master’s degree in Theology.  As is customary, on the first day each person was asked to introduce themselves.  Several attendees started off by identifying the particular church in which they served.  But when it was his turn John stated ‘…my name is John Kutumbo and the Lord Jesus Christ is my saviour…’

What John had reminded me is that what I do is not who I am.  John is a pastor. That is his profession.  But John is a Christian and that is who he is, that is his identity.  If John ever ceases to be a pastor, that will only change what he does.  It will not change who he is.

I cite this example because I believe that my boomer generation lost sight of the differences and has, by example and by word, failed to lead subsequent generations effectively.  Too often identities have been associated by what one does and what one has accumulated.  It gave rise to the phrase attributed to Malcolm Forbes, an American entrepreneur who stated “…he who dies with the most toys wins…”

At this point I need to also reference a line from the Wizard of Oz.  When Dorothy’s dog Toto pulls back the curtain to expose the so-called wizard, Dorothy scolds his by stating ‘…you are a bad, bad man…’ to which the gentleman replies ‘…no little girl, I’m not a bad, bad man; but I am a bad wizard…’ I include this reminder because boomers and others did not intend to be bad examples; they just didn’t try hard enough to be good examples.

Regardless of what you do or what you have, you should never confuse that with who you are.  The importance of this is relevant especially for those in leadership because your teams are always looking past that which is temporal – position or things – and they are seeking to be led by your character, by who you are. 

You do the same thing even when you aren’t conscious of it.  If your leader has pinned his or her credibility on their title or possessions, then they lack the substance to be a sustainable leader.  You know that; either intrinsically or experientially.  And you will not invest fully because you know that they lack the character to persevere when times are not going well.

The question then is a simple one.  Who are You?