Category: Light from Many Lamps

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Response to ccbeau – Light of Many Lamps – Part 2

Light of Many Lamps – Part 2

Christina,

I’m really touched by how this story in Light from Many Lamps has had such an impact in your life. It’s obvious that you have taken Arnold Bennett’s words to heart and you are evaluating your own habits and desires in light of the encouragement that the gift of today is all we really have.

Social media is such a new technology and our time with it has been so short. I remember my life before the internet, I remember life without social media, I remember life without a computer in our home. But for my kids, life has never not included the ability to access information and social platforms at their fingertips. As we continue to navigate how our world has changed because of social media the impact can be measured on global and individual scales.

Your post also helped to give me a moment to pause and give thanks to God for the gift of today. I’m sitting in my living room with one of my dogs sleeping at my feet. I’ve made myself a tea and the house is quiet before my wife and children wake up. Mornings have turned chilly so I’ve got a fire going but I’m not sure if that’s encouraging me to keep working or to grab a blanket a curl up on the couch! Either way, today is a gift. This moment is a gift. The opportunity to be learning together alongside you and others is an incredible gift.

Thank you for the reminder and the vulnerability in your post. It is very appreciated.

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Light from Many Lamps – Unit 4

The story of Harold Russell is new to me but after learning about him in Light from Many Lamps (Watson, 1951) I’m reminded again of the power of gratitude even when facing significant struggles. It is humbling to learn this story of a young man full of courage and willing to go to war for his country, injured to the point where he loses his hands and comes face to face with a new reality of how the rest of his life will look.

The leadership lessons in this story are many – perseverance, adaptability, determination. The key to all of those, as I read this story, is not from Harold Russell himself but instead from Charley McGonegal, the injured World War 1 Major who helped shift Russell’s perspective, to see “that the first and greatest obstacle he had to overcome was himself” (Watson, 1951, p. 89). The Major’s ability to help Russell see his weakness as an opportunity to discover new strength was the turning point for the injured soldier.

Leaders help followers see beyond present circumstances and I’m impacted by this story to remember that even in difficult, dire circumstances leaders have a responsibility to envision a new future which may have never been possible without these difficulties. Cynicism and hopelessness don’t have to be the default responses and I’m reminded of some current situations where I have the opportunity as a leader to help people see a better future.

Russell himself is even surprised by his own ability, inspired by McGonegal’s encouragement. “But the thing I never cease to marvel at is that I was able to meet the challenge of utter disaster and master it” (Watson, 1951, p. 92). The story of Harold Russell could have been so different after losing his hands without the incredible reminder from Charley McGonegal.

 

Reference
Watson, L.E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps. New York: Simon and Schuster.

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Response to Jessica Sawatzky: Light from many Lamps

Light from many Lamps

Jessica, your post on Henry Francis Lyte helped me remember that failure is much more common than we’d like to admit. More than that, failure is much more powerful than we would typically like when we the impression in the world around us is that success after success is what we should expect.

“Failure has a funny way of bringing out the best in us (Sawatzky, 2018)”. So true. Perhaps not in the moment – the immediate result of failure is likely to be something we are probably not proud of – but over time the deep change that happens through failure leads to growth, development and, ultimately, success.

I also so appreciated your description of the powerful memories triggered by music. As a musician I have had the privilege of leading funerals where singing familiar songs has had a similar resonance for people. Music is an incredibly powerful tool which can embed and surface significant emotions for us.

Reference
Sawatzky, Jessica. (2018, October 9). Light from many Lamps. Retrieved from https://create.twu.ca/jessicalaugsawatzky/2018/10/09/light-from-many-lamps/

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Response to B121: Light From Many Lamps – Part 1

Light From Many Lamps – Part 1

B, I really appreciated your reflection and I can appreciate your current challenges.

“This story served as a reminder that a leader does not lose hope.” Thank you for sharing this great reminder. I needed it today!

Hope is a priceless resource which can’t be bought but needs to be a reality for leaders and needs to be instilled in those we lead. Your post led me to think about how I am instilling hope in those around me as I lead and whether I am adding currency to the hope account or making withdrawals.

And even when hope is not abundant, the most reassuring truth for me is that the presence of God and His faithfulness means we can always find hope in every situation. Even when we are hopeless, we have the opportunity to hope in God and put our trust in Him.

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Light from Many Lamps – Unit 2

Taking time to read these stories, reflect on their significance and, with encouragement from the assignment instructions, to savour the content of the first two sections of Lillian Eichler Watson’s Light from Many Lamps (1951) has been a sweet, serene, refreshing experience. The ability of stories to help us see beyond our current situation is often undervalued. I am quite happy to be reading these stories as part of the work for this course but also as a significant time for my own heart and soul.

The story of Sarah Flower Adams (Watson, 1951, p. 45) was particularly meaningful for me to remember we all have the opportunity to turn the negative of our own suffering into an enduring positive for the world around us. “Weaving the pattern of her own life story into a familiar scriptural background, Sarah Flower Adams produced a hymn of enduring beauty – a hymn of hope and faith – an inspiring source of comfort to millions” (p. 48).

Adams is best known and remembered for her work as the author of the lyrics to Nearer, my God, to Thee, inspired by her own failing health and the suffering she experienced. “She would write a poem about it, showing how our very suffering and afflictions may be steps bringing us nearer to heaven . . . nearer to God” (p.46). The words of this particular hymn have been sung around the world by generations of people needing to find comfort and reassurance in their own suffering.

No life, including my own, is exempt from suffering. The reminder from this story is that nothing is wasted, even suffering! Illness inspired these words which now have brought peace and comfort to millions of people, even those aboard the Titanic as it sank (p. 48).

The other reminder is for me as a leader. Those around me who are enduring suffering have value and significance to add to the larger community. They are more than their illness or their bankruptcy or their divorce. Even as people are going through hard times and difficult circumstances, they are valuable, loved, cherished members of the community and have so much good to offer the world.

Reference
Watson, L.E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps. New York: Simon and Schuster.