December 10, 2001
‘Tis the Season of Stewards
Stewardship holds the possibility of shifting our
expectations of people in power. Part
of the meaning of stewardship is to hold in trust the well-being of some larger
entity – our organization, our community, the earth itself.
To hold something of value in trust calls for placing service ahead of
control, to no longer expect leaders to be in charge and out in front.
There is pride in leadership,
it evokes images of direction. There
is humility in stewardship, it evokes images of service. Service is central to the idea of stewardship.
Peter Block, Stewardship – Choosing
Service Over Self-Interest
During this time of the year
many of the world’s great religions celebrate sacred events.
Most of us in the west are familiar with Hanukkah
and Christmas, but perhaps until this year, few of us had ever heard of the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan (1). In
many parts of the world, these holidays have become a period of not only
celebrating our respective religious roots or traditions, but have been times
when we assist those less fortunate.
Peter Block’s book, Stewardship,
is actually a business book and the follow-up to his bestseller, The
Empowered Manager. In the
preface he explains that the origin of the word stewardship is to hold something
in trust for another. Historically,
stewardship was a means to protect a kingdom while those rightfully in charge
were away, or, more often, to govern for the sake of an underage king.
Block goes on to say, “The underlying value of stewardship is
deepening our commitment to service.”
It has been well documented that
the events of September 11th brought out the best in people all over
the world. Billions of dollars have
been raised for the victims and, although there has been some concern over the
appropriation of those funds, it does not diminish the outpouring of love
expressed through the contributions. When
President Bush suggested that children in the U.S. send a dollar to aid the
children in Afghanistan, millions were raised and are now being sent as part of
the relief effort.
Now that we have come to the
season of giving and caring, we are beginning to learn that many of the
charities that count on us during this time of the year are struggling.
I am the first to recognize that not all charities are created equal and
some even advance political issues that may be offensive to many.
But most of us have helped in one way or another through the years even
if it is only giving loose change or a can of food.
This week I was pained to learn
that the Marines “Toys For Tots” program was in serious trouble in Colorado.
According to the story that ran on the news, this time last year they had
received almost 200,000 unwrapped toys compared to only 20,000 this year.
I listened to the story from another source before I could believe what I
had heard the day before. The State Treasurer for Toys For Tots, Mike Coffman, says since September
11th, our focus has been on families on the East Coast. But he says with the
sluggish economy there is also a greater need to help kids in Colorado.
My guess is that Colorado is not unique.
There is a limit to what any of
us can give especially when the world economy has been filled with uncertainty.
Part of stewardship is protecting your bounty for the benefit of your own
loved ones. But when we do have the
opportunity to use our assets, whether in service through time or service
through money, we are making one of the greatest soul connections possible.
I have written about many things
that we can do to awaken our souls. Perhaps
nothing is more rewarding and nurturing than when the stewardship of our assets
includes sharing them with others. Those
assets might be money, time, talent, or other means of support.
This year, maybe more than any in our recent history, is going to be
challenging for many people. I know
it will be for my family, and yet when I heard this story, my soul was stirred
and I knew that I had to do something, anything, to be a good steward. It does not matter the size of our giving, it is the action
that makes the spirit leap!
With respect, acceptance, and love,
Richard
(1)
Hanukkah – commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its
defilement by Antiochus of Syria; Christmas – commemorates the birth of Jesus
Christ; Ramadan -- fasting in the ninth month in the Muslim year is the Holy
month of fasting. In that month, they give up eating and drinking during the
daylight hours from dawn to sunset. At the end of each day, during Ramadan,
Muslims break their fast at a joyful family meal. The main aim of the fast is to
please God and to draw near Him.
©
Richard D. Olson and Awaken The Soul, 2001; Edited by Janice E. Olson
Opening quote from Stewardship – Choosing
Service Over Self-Interest, by Peter Block;
©1993; Berrett-Koehler Publishes, Inc.