27/01/2018
A LEADERSHIP TRAINING ORGANISED BY THE CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA, ADO DEANERY, EKITI DIOCESE, HELD AT THE ST PATRICK CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL YOUTH CENTRE, ADO-EKITI.
A PAPER PRESENTED BY CATECHIST PETER OLUTOPE ONI, TODAY 27TH JANUARY, 2018.
TOPIC: SPIRITUAL BASIS OF SERVING GOD THROUGH SELFLESS SERVICE TO HUMANITY.
Introduction
To start with, there are some terms we need to examine briefly, viz;
i. Leader:- According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a Leader is described as a person who directs or controls a group, an organization or a country, it is also synonymous to ruler.
ii. Leadership:- The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English also describe Leadership as the position of being the leader of a group, organization and country.
When we see the state of things around us, and encounter problems for which we do not have a solution, it is good to hear the Lord saying to us, "Come up higher! Come and see things from My standpoint - and not from the low earthly level from which you have been looking at these things". This is a word that we need to hear constantly - "Come up higher!" How do we go higher to God?
God needs men today, who will stand before His face and hear His voice daily; men who have no desire in their heart for anyone or anything other than God Himself; men who have the discernment of the Spirit to distinguish between the soulish and the spiritual authority; men who will stand alone for God in the world, if need be; totally uncompromising men, like the apostles and prophets of old.
These things I will say in this compilation encourages you to be such a man....
God's plan for man's evolution is work. Love of God and service of man is the secret of true life. The meaning of true life is service and sacrifice. Life is meant for service, and not for self-seeking Sacrifice! Do your duties well and sincerely, thus the saying ‘What is worth doing at all is worth doing well’. Your privileges will follow unasked.
Hold your life for the service of others. The more the energy you spend in elevating and serving others, the more the divine energy which will flow to you.
Selfless Service Purifies
What is the object in service? Why do you serve poor people and the suffering humanity at large? Why do you serve the society and the country? By doing service, you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, idea of superiority vanishes. Humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy are developed. Sense of separateness is annihilated. Selfishness is eradicated; you get a broad outlook of life. You begin to feel oneness or unity of life. You develop a broad heart with broad and generous views.
The first step in the spiritual path is selfless service of humanity. Selfless service is the watchword along the road to salvation. Selfless service of humanity prepares the human beings for the attainment of cosmic consciousness (the realization of the things of heaven), or the life of oneness or unity with God. Human beings should direct their whole attention in the beginning towards removal of selfishness by protracted selfless service.
Through selfless service and charity, you develop the heart and cleanse the lower mind. Purify your heart by selfless and humble service of the poor and the afflicted, and make it a fit abode for God to dwell. Selfless service alone can purify your heart and fill it with divine virtues. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches us about virtue and contrary vices which will enable us dispel the occasion selfishness in our heart and mind. Only the pure in heart will see God.
Grow in love, purity, and self-sacrifice, live for others. You will attain the state of blessedness. Selfless service and cosmic love are like the water that irrigate the field of the human heart and enable the rich harvest of peace, joy, prosperity and immortality to be reaped.
Opportunities for Selfless Service
The world is yourself: Selfless Service has no quick returns but its reward is heavenly, therefore love all, serve all, be kind to all, embrace all. Behold the Lord in the poor, the down-trodden; the oppressed and lowly ones, when you extend a hand of fellowship to them, God’s blessing will shower on you and flourish therein.
Become a servant of humanity: This is the secret of attaining God-realization. Seek out the lowly and the miserable; cheer up and bring a ray of comfort to them by serving them unstintingly. Console the disconsolate and Comfort the distressed by so doing, you will be blessed. Serve your parents, elders, teachers, and guests with divine attitude. Wash the clothes of your parents, elders, the sick, and the rejected. Feed the hungry, nurse the sick, comfort the afflicted, and lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, Clothe the naked, Educate the illiterate, Feed the poor and Raise the down-trodden. Mind you, the world is burning with misery and suffering. Wake up, O man! Serve! Serve with love. Serve untiringly. Attain the peace of the Eternal.
Have a little knowledge of Homoeopathy (giving little drugs to treat the little ailment) Remedies: Now serve the sick and the needy. And with first-aid knowledge, always give first help in all cases of emergency. Get medicine from the hospital or the dispensary for the helpless and deserving neighbours. Visit a hospital daily, if you can, or weekly, and give your best attention to them as much as you can. Sit by the side of the patient and speak a few encouraging words. Tell him/her that you will meet him 'tomorrow'; and make sure you meet him, don’t make empty promises. Collect some old clothes (not torn) and distribute them to the needy. Volunteer in any Social Institution for one hour daily without any remuneration.
Develop an understanding heart: Help the people around you in the spiritual path. Lift them up. Throw light on their path; do not expect perfection from them, because you are not perfect yourself. Be kind to them. They are doing their best, as you are yourself doing yours. You will grow by helping them.
Finally, think for yourself, how best you can utilize your energy, your intellect, your education, your wealth, your strength, or anything you possess, for the betterment of others who are low-placed in life and for the society in general.
6 MAJOR SKILLS NEEDED IN LEADERSHIP
1. MANAGEMENT SKILLS
To set priorities, delegate, motivate and develop your people, coach them to become top performers and communicate objectives and goals. Gain the core management skills you need to succeed!
2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
To get your point across, create a compelling presentation to support your goals and get buy-in for ideas, inspire others to achieve better results and demonstrate emotional intelligence. Be a consistently professional communicator - even in difficult circumstances.
3. COLLABORATION SKILLS
So you can value and celebrate differences, build rapport, form alliances and negotiate effectively. Develop a collaborative style to enhance team commitment and individual performance.
4. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
To approach problem solving logically, research options, avoid biases and focus on meaningful data to draw the right conclusions - even under pressure. Develop clearer and more effective thinking in the church parlance.
5. FINANCE SKILLS
To weigh the dollars-and-cents implications of your decisions - including the ability to build a sound budget and formulate reasonable forecasts. Get the basic skills you need to accurately predict revenues and costs.
6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS
To grasp the scope and objectives of projects, recognize the roles and responsibilities of others, use PM Skills/tools to stay on track and become an effective member of a cross - functional team. Build a social foundation of project management knowledge, techniques and tools in these hands - on workshop that covers the entire project life cycle.
Thanks and God bless you all for listening.