Forbes 1
Cameron Forbes
Dr. Wood
LDS 1301 N2
6 October 2016
Academy Lecture: Austin Channing Brown
On Tuesday night, I heard the words, “Painful work is not impossible work.” In this academy lecture, Austin Channing Brown completely remodeled how I viewed the idea of leading within the realm of social injustice and simply making an impact. From listening to this lecture, my views and understandings of leadership evolved, I gained a better understanding of how my values as a human being and a follower of Christ fit with my leadership roles, and how I can better apply myself in my leadership capacities.
As Austin Channing Brown spoke, I found myself wondering what I could do to take a stand and promote change in our world. Growing up in south Louisiana and seeing all the turmoil my city and state are in because of racial tensions, Austin’s message truly spoke to me. I realized that, to be able to lead in promoting the change I want to see, I have to be willing to be passionate about what I am working for even when other people disagree or disapprove. Like Pharaoh’s daughter, I have to be willing to not only do what is expected of me but to go above and aim for higher and better goals. This session also impacted me in how I aim to approach issues in the future. Rather than approaching issues with the general ideas and tactics, I, as a leader, must be creative and transformative in my actions. I must remake the old ideas into new and effective ones- ones that inspire light and life. As well as being creative in my approach, I will also aim to be sensitive in my responses. Rather than sensing the pain of the moment and stepping back, I must feel the pain and use that emotion to further understand the issue so that I can find a way to reconciliation.
In this academy lecture, I also learned that my leadership does not have to be completely unbiased or separated from my personal values. Rather than dividing my beliefs and leadership, I can conjoin them and work to defend an idea I truly believe in and support. In Austin’s words, “The possibilities of what we could with our union in Christ are staggering.” I truly believe this idea; were I to bring together my faith and what I believe because of that and come along side others with the same thought process, incredible things could begin to happen.
Finally, I learned how to better apply my leadership practices during this lecture. Rather than simply directing others or suggesting ideas as most people generally think when they picture leadership, I learned that inspiring others to rise up and do something is also a much needed form of leadership. People can stand up and ask people to take action or even force others to take action in due to their positions at work or in an organization. However, in facing social and even political problems, sometimes the best leadership style is inspiring leadership in others. The work to be done for future justice and reconciliation is not work to be done alone but work that is to be done in community with others.
Austin Channing Brown’s lecture inspired me to work for justice and peace in my home and even in Waco. I can practice the work of reconciliation now and wherever I go in life despite what my vocation may be. Even if I am not standing before hundreds of people, inspiring them to seek justice and mercy, I can still work for those things myself through the group of people that I interact with and lead. I can work for my yearning for peace and righteousness in my character, interactions, and in the love I show. Perfect love does indeed cast out fear, but it also rids us of anger, injustice, and even racism.