Fortitude

Fortitude 

"Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 3:8-9)

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There is a lot of anger in this world. Some of it warranted, much of it not. But if you are a leader of any sort, you will be dealing with it.  

Some of it will find you simply because you are the face of the group.  Other times, it will be a product of setting some reasonable boundaries for folks who aren't used to them -- at least for themselves. Or it will occur because the unlimited desires of others collide with a world of limited resources. And hard choices have to made.  Still, on other occasions, anger flares up for who knows what reason. But people are upset, determined to let the whole world know, and someone's head is going to roll. Growl! Hiss! Roarrrrrrr!

And typically the most painful of these situations occurs when the anger, the ganging up, perhaps even the betrayal comes from within the group -- the very folks who you are trying to responsibly lead and serve.

In such situations, I have found this passage to be of comfort. Not because I aspire to be some hard-headed jerk. On the contrary, seeking to understand before being understood, meeting legitimate needs in full whenever possible, finding win-win -- all of these should be hallmarks of the servant leader. But there are, regrettably, times when such everyday approaches no longer serve the situation at hand. When after due discussion and deliberation, it's time to articulate a position, demonstrate fortitude, and endure whatever is to follow.

It is important in difficult moments like these to recall that you are not alone.  Our Lord is the rock who can fortify you with the strongest of His stone.  If needed, He can match any force brought up against you with equal force -- and then some.  For geology simply expressed is "time + pressure." And in God, you have the power of eternity on your side of the equation.
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Dear Lord,
Thank you for the opportunity to lead and serve Your children. Help me to daily be an instrument of Your peace. Strengthen me for the burden of each day; fortify me for whatever comes my way.  On the rock of Your truth and love, I will stand, endure, and thrive.
Amen.