2023_08_14 Insight Post- Kim Feld

This week’s reading begins with Psalm 72, which is attributed to Solomon. I love his words in verse two, asking God to help him judge the people “in the right way.” I also love his concern for people experiencing poverty and the children of those in need. He asks God for blessings for ALL but repeatedly goes back to his concern for the oppressed and downtrodden.

I’m feeling reflective as I read this psalm about the responsibility of leadership. Certainly, none of us are in the role of king as Solomon was, but take a look at these verses with me:

⁶ May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like the showers that water the earth.
⁷ May all the godly flourish during his reign.
May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.

Solomon could have asked God for obedient people who would follow his leadership, but instead, he asked that his rule be refreshing (I love the imagery of spring rain on freshly cut grass). His concern for the “least of these” in his kingdom, coupled with his desire that his people would be uplifted by his leadership, is powerful. And challenging.

When New Hope first moved into our facility in Lorton, we prayed that people in the community would be glad we were there. We prayed that New Hope would be a place that would be missed if we disappeared. I want to think we’ve done that through our church, Silo programs, and outreach to our local schools and neighbors in need. There is still much to be done, and I feel God has strategically planted us “for such a time as this.” But let’s take this to a personal level and evaluate how our leadership compares to what Solomon has laid out.

Do the people I lead feel refreshed by the way I coach them?

Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines refresh in this way: to restore strength and animation to. You may think you aren’t a leader, but this also applies to relationships. Do those around me feel encouraged when they are with me? I get that not every meeting or interaction is full of sunshine and unicorns but think of the feeling people get from you in general. One opposite of refresh is discouragement, and that’s really what I’m getting at. We have the opportunity every day to speak words of encouragement to those around us, even in difficult conversations and situations. Would those around you say that they are refreshed by being with you?

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach

Reference: Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Refresh. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refresh