為領袖的禱告
（編者註：查爾斯．門羅Charles Monroe是一位在美國田納西州查特努加市的CBMC會員，他提出這首由約翰．歐當諾修John O”Donohue所作，為領袖的禱告詩。）
願你有恩典與智慧，
能仁慈待人，
並學習公私分明。
願你樂於接受批評，
願你不讓別人都繞著你轉。
願你的行為不是出於自大，
而是出於服事人。
願你造就自己，
建立並煉淨你的思想。
願你學習培養風度，
使與你交談的人如沐春風。
當有人失敗或使你失望時，
願你的和藹成為他們重新振奮的階梯。
願你透過閱讀和創新的思考，
珍惜別人的想法，
使你不斷作新領域的僕人，
在那裡新人能從老人那裡擷取豐富的智慧，
而你不會變得官僚。
願你知道傾聽的智慧，
良言的療效，
讚賞眼神的鼓勵，
展現得體的尊嚴，
在沒有希望的荒蕪中仍看到春天的萌芽。
願你的心喜愛尚待開發的新領域，
使你能激發出光明的境界，
那境界座落在一般眼光看不到之處。
願你有好友，
反映出你的盲點。
願領導對你而言
是真正的成長歷險。
聖經在提摩太前書2章1-2節教導我們：「我勸你，第一要為萬人懇求、禱告、代求、祝謝；為君王和一切在位的，也該如此，使我們可以敬虔、端正、平安無事地度日。」這首詩是遵行這教導的一個好的開始。
省思 / 討論題目
- 你曾否想過為領袖－－在你工作部門中、你的公司、你的行業、社區、州政府、國家、或世界上的領袖們禱告？為什麼？
- 我們常常聽到人們提出各種代禱請求，但我們卻很少聽到有人建議為我們各階層中的領袖禱告。為什麼會有此現象？
- 「為領袖的禱告」這首詩的哪個部份對你最有意義？
- 若你認真地要遵行將這教導，開始為領袖禱告，你認為這會－－或可能－－不僅在那些領袖自己的生活中，也在他們所領導的公司和組織中帶來什麼改變？
若你想看或討論聖經有關此主題的其他經文，請看以下經節：
箴言15章29節，21章1節；以弗所書6章18節；腓立比書4章6節；歌羅西書4章2節；帖撒羅尼迦前書5章17節
A PRAYER FOR LEADERS
(Editor”s Note: Charles Monroe, a CBMC member in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.A., submitted this prayer poem for leaders, written by John O”Donohue.)
A PRAYER FOR LEADERS
May you have the grace and wisdom
To act kindly, learning
To distinguish between what is
Personal and what is not.
May you be hospitable to criticism.
May you never put yourself at the center of things.
May you act not from arrogance but out of service.
May you work on yourself
Building up and refining the ways of your mind.
May you learn to cultivate the art of presence
In order to engage with those who meet you.
When someone fails or disappoints you
May the graciousness with which you engage
Be their stairway to renewal and refinement.
May you treasure the gifts of the mind
Through reading and creative thinking
So that you continue to be a servant of the frontier
Where the new will draw its enrichment from the old,
And you never become a functionary.
May you know the wisdom of deep listening,
The healing of wholesome words,
The encouragement of the appreciative gaze,
The decorum of held dignity,
The springtime of the bleak question.
May you have a mind that loves frontiers
So that you can evoke the bright fields
That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.
May you have good friends
To mirror your blind spots.
May leadership be for you
A true adventure of growth. — John O”Donohue
The Bible, in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, instructs, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” This poem could be a good guide for following that directive.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Have you ever considered praying for leaders – in your department at work, your company, your industry, community, state, nation, or even the world? Why or why not?
- We often hear people expressing a variety of prayer requests, but rarely do we hear anyone suggesting that we pray for our leaders, at any level. Why do you think that is the case?
- What part (or parts) of “A Prayer for Leaders” impress you as particularly meaningful?
- Suppose you were to take seriously this admonition to pray for people in leadership? What difference do you think that would – or could – make, not only in their own lives but also for the people, companies and organizations they lead?
If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages: Proverbs 15:29, 21:1; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
