I’ve always been moved by the reflection Napolean Bonaparte gave to Christ during his exile on the Island of Saint Helena. Considering his accomplishments as a man and a military leader, and comparing himself to Caesar and Alexander the Great, Bonaparte settles on Christ as the most inspiring of men. What is so wonderful about his reflection is that it reminds leaders of the insufficiency in grandiose posturing and bravado, and settles upon the greatest motivation: Love. We don’t think of love as a strength, but as a compromise of strength. And we certainly don’t think of the value of love in affecting mass, social change, and yet Napoleon realizes he and his work will be forgotten and other leaders will flicker and fade while the work of Christ carries on. And why? Because Jesus loved his men, and charged those men to take his message of love to the ends of the earth. I am wondering whether or not we think of the great commission as a duty, a charge, or a joyful expression of love? Not only this, but Christ charged these men not to kill but to die. And he offered them no sure land or right [...]
