The Strength of Vulnerability

Peace Leaders

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”

Brene` Brown (Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead)

Somewhere along the way—perhaps when we emerged from caves with clubs in our hands—we humans decided that in order to survive, we had to best everybody else. And not in a good way—we had to club them over the head before they bashed us. Our weapons have changed, but apparently our attitude has not. The whole idea that real strength is found in vulnerability is anathema to our way of being in the world. We are at a crossroad when it comes to deciding if this will also be our future.

I happen to believe that we are seeing the rise of “strongmen” leaders around the world so that we can decide whether we want to continue on the path of head-bashing, or perhaps entertain a different way of leading. There's an old saying that Southern mothers tell their girl-children: “You can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar.” I think it means that women need to be sweet if they want to attract the man of their dreams. I wouldn't know about that, but corny as it is, there is some truth to it. We know that the greatest movements for change in the human world have been peaceful ones. We understand that Gandhi, M. L. King Jr., Lech Walesa, Cesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, and, yes, Jesus of Nazareth, led by vulnerability. We claim to honor, respect and even deify them, but we haven't yet bought into their type of leadership.

Vulnerability is slower than head-bashing, to be sure. And, it may end the same way, with a lot of dead people, but it seems to me that if we truly desire a peaceful world, that peace begins with us. Peaceful people are strong and vulnerable. They value authenticity, foster creativity, and support community. They are full of love and that love is contagious. Sounds all warm and fuzzy and idealistic, doesn't it? But it is, in fact, strength through grounding—in the moral convictions of their spirituality, and in their dedication to liberty and justice for all. Isn't that what we pledge?

                                                                       In the Spirit,

                                                                          Jane