Day Five

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DAY FIVE - Blessed are those who build
community, for they will be blessed with
belonging

A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us;
she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord
opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and
her household were baptised, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me
to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed
upon us. (Acts 16:14-15)

It begins with a simple act of hospitality, “come and stay at my home”. The
apostles have somewhere to stay, a base for their witness. When Lydia
was baptised she became the head of the church that was her household.
By her faith and example Lydia transformed her household and bore
witness to Christ in the wider community. Sharing her faith and motivation,
lives changed around her.
That home was Lydia’s safe space for developing her own leadership and
business skills. She recognised Paul’s faith leadership and gave him
hospitality. This is about reciprocal leadership, recognising what the other
offers, giving them space. Lydia participated in their mission and did not
compete with it.
What are the spaces in our lives and organisations which nurture
leadership, particularly leadership of women? Encouraging mutuality and
solidarity in leadership can transform organisations and societies.
Sustainable organisational models rely on community building and
participation. As we try to promote these transformative models we need
also to look at our own structures. How safe do we feel cooperating rather
than competing; are we happier when others take responsibility; are we
ever willing to share leadership or give up a leadership role so that
someone else can gain experience?
If we passionately believe that God’s community is one in which all can
have a sense of belonging, then we need to develop fluid structures of
leadership which allow for roles to be shared and leadership to be
exercised by the many and not by the few.
In developing womanly leadership we need to follow the path of wisdom.

Questions for personal reflection
Think of instances of what, for you, are examples of good and bad
leadership - what makes the difference?
How do you feel when you exercise a leadership role, what are the
challenges of leadership in partnership with others?
Share examples of collaborative leadership from your own context.

Prayer

God of mutuality
Teach us integrity and inclusivity when we exercise leadership.
Help us see how much more fruitful we are when we work together
Rather than in competition.
In the name of Christ
Amen

Lam Highlight:

Often we forget that being parents to our children and the orphans of this world is the greatest role of leadership and responsibility we as women hold. There are countless homes for street children accross the world. Many of them are places where their parents leave them for periods of time due to illness, poverty, violence and fear. Many of these parents love their children and visit them regularly. Others simply cannot. Take a moment to see the faces of such children. Pray for these children that reside in Honduras and are cared for my our LAM sisters.