"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain

When you look into that mirror, if you do not see the wildfires that you can start even with the light sparks, then you will just be a firefly that faintly glimmers in the dark. But when you see the bright sparks that causes great wildfires, then what people say shouldn't disturb you. Yes, surround yourself with the right people and if you can't find them, look within and see the greatness that lies inside. Jesus Christ understood this hence more than two thousand years after, the ideals he espoused on this day still stands firm.

"if I do not wash your feet, you can have no part with me" Jesus Christ

At the Last Supper, during the washing of feet, Jesus despite his nature stooped low and washed the feet of his disciples. This is a classic demonstration of servant leadership and love. He did this to demonstrate that leadership is service and to serve means to lead by doing.

He had commanded them to love one another by their actions, emphasizing the active function of the words love and lead with this, we can say without any form of equivocation that Jesus instituted the concept of Servant Leadership.

If service is above you, then leadership is beyond you.

Today is Maundy Thursday where we celebrate the Last Supper, the institution of the Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist, it is the first day of the Easter Triduum and after tonight, the Gloria won't be sung until Easter vigil.

When Jesus established the Ministry of the Holy Orders and the Holy Eucharist, he enjoined the disciples to do this in memory of me hence upon his ordination; the priest becomes Alto Christo that empowers him to turn bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

A servant leader puts the people before himself. He doesn't put people through hellish conditions just say that he can move around. He does things for the greater good of the people. On days like you remember and cherish Umar Musa Yar'dua. May his soul rest in peace.

Terry Pratchett once said "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." In the same vain, Jon Bloom notes that “a servant leader sacrificially seeks the highest joy of those he serves… the vast majority of our leaders are imperfect servants trying to be faithful.”

When you have an opportunity to serve, share or even speak to people, what is your aim; to build or to set on fire? Is your aim to warm just for a night or to set ablaze a wide fire that burns rapidly and profusely? When Our Lord Jesus dined with the Twelve, he set ablaze in them, wide fire that has continued to burn profusely without any sign of quenching.

In John 13: 12-16 Jesus says “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

The power of the tongue is such that can't be quantified. The consequences and rewards are there but before you can build a fire or set on fire, you must know what to use for each type of fire. When people come to you, let them leave you knowing that you have caused not just a stir, but a raging fire that spreads across various inner talents and gifts.

As you go about your business today especially if you are in Lagos, please spare a thought for your leaders and pray for them that on this most auspicious day, the essence of servant leadership himself may grant them the grace of true leadership which is in itself a life of service and love; a life of creating and sustaining wild-fires in their followers.

Ya gazie nu

OjisiEmezie