I have not seen Hamilton the musical, perhaps you have and if so I would love to hear your thoughts about it. As I sit here at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Wichita, Kansas, I cannot help but think about the song "In the Room When it Happens" from this hit musical. For those who have not heard this song, here ya go:
Burr wants to be in the room when these decisions are happening, but he is not. Hamilton is in these rooms in part because he has a clear vision of what the country could be in the coming future. Hamilton has a vision and a voice, while Burr seems to have skills that are not valued in this new thing being created. Burr does not have that vision but wants to be in the room nonetheless.
In the SCJ meetings so far, there seems to be two types of people in the room: Those that have a clear vision of what the UMC needs to do/be and those who want to be in the room when it happens. Those with a vision state it and are willing to work for it. Those who want to be in the room often use language that diminishes the work of those with a vision.
Perhaps the most common example of language used by those who want to be in the room when it happens is some version of this: "I am not into the politics."
The word politics is tarnished right now, but the reality is politics is just the name we use to talk about the work it takes to get things done. Wikipedia defines politics as: " is the process of making uniform decisions applying to all members of a group." Those who have a vision are willing to do the work of decision making (politics) and those who are not doing the work are just in the room when it happens.
Of course all those in the room when it happens get a share of the glory and prestige. Those who are working and deciding take on a disproportionate amount of risk and potential shame. Which may explain why we have more Burrs than Hamiltons in our time.
I desire to be a leader who is not afraid of the work of decision making (politics) because that is how the work of the Body of Christ accomplishes a good number of things.
I want to be more Hamilton and less Burr, but right now I am just in the room while it happens.