Poignant: Deeply Affecting

"Jean! Why didn't you take the candle sticks as I told you?" the aging Cardinal replied to the bound-in-chains convict.

I sat in a room-full of beautiful women and experienced a poignant talk on Servant leadership given by Paul Stanley. Mr. Stanley, former leader of the Navigators, used the famous scene from Les Miserables to bring home a powerful concept: Our things aren't really ours.

I'd had the pleasure of taking in "Les Mis" on the West End theatre disctrict in London 5 years ago. The setting is France just prior to the Revolution. The French seek liberation from a cruel, unfeeling King. I witnessed the above exchange from my high balcony seat and was stunned at the generosity of the cardinal and thought no more of it until 2 weeks ago sitting in Mr. Stanley's talk.

Suddenly, in a room full of servant-leader-seeking moms the impact of the Cardinal's actions toward Jean Valjean, a common thief, struck a chord in my heart.

Jean stole from the Cardinal the night before after seeking refuge and having it given to him. A full belly, a warm bed graciously given by the Cardinal was returned with Jean waking in the night and stealing the silver. Jean, found later the next morning, is returned to the Cardinal by the Police, who seek to press charges. The Cardinal quickly replies that Jean forgot the rest of the silver set, gets it for him and sends him on his way with genuine relief, not regret.

The Cardinal clearly understands that the 'things' he may own aren't really his. They belong to the Lord, to be used as He sees fit and to further His Kingdom.

What a precious, poignant picture of Christ's love.

I've been turning the idea of such servant leadership over and over in my mind. Can I currently say, at this moment, that everything we have in our home belongs to the Lord? Am I, are WE, willing and even DESIROUS to part with our talents, gifts, prayers, sleep, or in my case my beloved pottery and china collection?

I continue to seek the Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal anything in my/our life that need to be given over to Him completely, for His use. I'm certain there's more to be written on this in the days to come....