The Power of Partnership

Some years ago Donald Grey Barnhouse told the story of two students, who having been mediocre achievers for most of their educational career, graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law with the highest honors. The highest ranking student in the class was a blind man named Overton and, when he received his honor, he insisted that half the credit should go to his friend, Kaspryzak. He told his listeners of the day that had changed the course of their lives when the armless Mr. Kaspryzak helped to guide the blind Mr. Overton down a flight of stairs. Over a period of weeks a friendship developed and they discovered that by working together they could dramatically increase their mutual scholastic success. Mr. Overton (the blind man) carried the books and typed the papers while the armless Mr. Kaspryzak would read aloud from the assigned books. By this process (and others) the individual deficiency of each was compensated for by the other. After graduation, friends, family and acquaintances alike gave lavish praise to these young men for their determination and intellect. Their smiling response was precisely the same each time….. “We did it together.”  It was rumored that after their graduation, they planned to practice law together.  

In life and leadership something remarkable happens when we join together to become more than we could be on our own. That said…. it is an unfortunately common hazard in the work of Christian leadership to forget that we are racing with one another and not against one another. You’ve met a few people like that haven’t you? Maybe you’ve been one yourself! The Kingdom will be advanced by men and women who, when faced with minor differences, choose partnership over segregation and animosity. It is only in the symbiotic relationship with the Holy Spirit and our brothers and sisters in Christ that we will impact our circles of influence for the Kingdom. 

On the Journey with you,
Dan

Dan Scarrow

District Superintendent