I’ve shared that one of my proactive ways this fall to manage my stress this fall has been my reading of the Harry Potter books. I’ve learned over time that just stopping working isn’t enough to help me chill out. I have to be proactive to get my mind into something else that is relaxing because the neutral state is much much just like the work or study state. These were fun books and a light-hearted balance to what I’ve been having to engage over the past several months. You don’t have to be a reader to track with this post, but maybe this will spark your interest 🙂
Here’s one of my favorite lines from all seven books:
“If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius,” said Dumbledore, “we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I — I shall act as I see fit.”Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, pg. 709
This is the beginning of a long arc in the series dealing with system leadership in the face of painful realities and anxious times. Cornelius is the Minister of Magic who cannot bear the pain and challenge that comes with acknowledging difficult realities. Dumbledore plays the prophetic role, pleading with him to acknowledge reality and take courageous action while there is still time.
Cornelius is classic leader who struggles with what Edwin Friedman called “A Failure of Nerve”. Check out the systems category link on the right for postings on Friedman and systems theory. Cornelius is paralyzed by his own anxiety and fear. He chooses the comfort of denial over the painful challenge of leading change. His language and statements indicate more concern for his own security and safety rather than courageous and timely leadership in the face of danger.
As things progress Cornelius becomes threatened by Dumbledore and instead of receiving truth he scapegoats him with the rationalization that Dumbledore wants to take his job. The sacred moment where courageous leadership can make a difference ends up giving way to trivial concerns and self-focused thinking. The prophetic voices get silenced and scapegoated while many good men and women pay a high price.
This is all fiction of course, but it remains as an amazing example of the tensions between the typological functions of King and Prophet in community – those with control and power versus those with vision.
This quote is a fascinating one because it highlights a type of submitted rebellion. That of course is an oxymoron, but such is the position of those who find themselves in Dumbledore’s shoes. To submit in the way in which the anxious leader desires can lead to the community’s ruin. In our world spirituality and various assumptions about hierarchy and social orders can influence perceptions about whether action is truly rebellious or whether some action might actually be courageous and prophetic in the face of an absence or abuse of power/leadership.
Dumbledore does not seek to take over or undermine Cornelius’ leadership, he merely defines clearly what he is about and what he will and will not stand for. He doesn’t get caught up in politics, but keeps working for the greater good. It’s a great example of a non-anxious leader.
I’ve posted elsewhere (see prophets v. posers) that people should think twice before taking such a stand and claiming some measure of prophetic authority. But sometimes there may be a need for a submitted rebellion – where stewardship and the greater good cause one or more to step outside the lines of the established norms and policies and lead courageously. I’m not talking about mutiny or compromising character, but about leading with nerve.
Do you think something like a “submitted rebellion” is sometimes called for? Even in a ministry/spiritual context? Or is it just mutiny dressed up in spiritual language?
How do you handle the Cornelius Fudge’s of the world? of your world? Are you Cornelius Fudge?
