Our free-sidentiable series, where credentials of candidates vying for the highest position in the land were discussed, explored the freedom of people to choose to run and to vote for those who are running. While there have been others who filed, aside from Pacquiao, Lacson, Moreno, Marcos, and Roberto, I think we need to move on and focus on why these five presidential aspirants are running in the first place. After such political extravaganza where many candidates filed their respective Certificates of Candidacy, the next question to ask is—What kind of leadership does our country need to usher in an era of social and political healing, if not economic recovery?
In my impulsive musings, I realize that there are questions whose answers may far exceed man’s ability to comprehend, corollary to the premise that they probably dwell beyond the mind ’s recesses—at least for a fleeting moment. This notwithstanding, I am prompted to explore what triggers a person to seek the presidency! Arguably, that level of leadership coincides with much power, one can only surmise with both expectation and apprehension.
This brings us to Russia, circa 1540s, and examine the rule of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan Grozny, by-name Ivan Vasilyevich, also called Ivan IV). He was the first to be proclaimed tsar of Russia (in 1547), the equivalent of “emperor” per his contemporaries. In seeking to impose military discipline and a centralized administration, he set up a reign of terror against the hereditary nobility. He sponsored the service gentry against the more landed nobility. He was known to have forged a good foreign policy for Russia to be introduced into Europe. But chief of Ivan’s “legacies” is his reign of terror, executions and murders, in particular! Such terroristic approach resulted in the deterioration of all levels of the aristocracy. The prolonged Livonian War strained the state’s resources and even led Russia to the brink of economic collapse. Ivan’s pursuit of power could be considered, at best, imprudent. With so much power, he failed to maintain a government detached from his personal and tumultuous inclinations. The reforms and the reorganization of both central and local administration in Russia during his time, while admirable, could not austerely erase the reign of terror from which his moniker Ivan the Terrible was derived. In defending the divine right of a ruler to unlimited power under God, a focus he allegedly adhered to, Ivan IV may have pursued that much power and abused it liberally. His spiritual conviction was opposed to his reality!
History has seen many resurrected versions of Ivan IVin other countries: Adolf Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy, Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Pol Pot of Cambodia, and of course, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. of the Philippines. The reign of these leaders was accentuated with killings through the abuse of power. Any centralization of power into one person, when unmistakably misdirected, can lead to tyranny. I see that in the Army and in most hierarchical organizations.
I was raised to believe that power and authority should enable a well-meaning person in government to pursue righteousness. But those who chase the iniquitous kind of power yield wickedness. To me, a leader should search for and run after the one true source of power that empowers him to do well, with a morally upright governing body, to please the people he swore to serve. The pursuit of which type of power proves critical in the leader we choose. I recall the story of an unnamed woman in the Bible who pursued the power that can only come from Jesus.
“If I could just touch the hem of his garment, I will be healed.” This was the conviction of the broken woman who was looking for healing in the Book of Mark 5:25-34. Bleeding for 12 years, this woman was an outcast and doctors provided no hope. But when Jesus came to town, this woman instantly knew what to do—pursue such great power from the Greatest Healer! The woman followed Him amidst a large crowd, surreptitiously inching behind Him. She confidently ran after the Man who can cure her from disease and free her from oppression. She pursued the kind of power that can only generate good.
After expressing such pursuit, the woman was able to finally touch the fringe of Jesus’ clothes, “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering” (Mark 5:29). Further, we read that Jesus felt a release of power from Him, for even as His companions disclosed that with so many people crowding over and touching Him, it was difficult to pinpoint who exactly laid a hand on Him and yet, Jesus knew: “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30) The woman reached out to Jesus in faith. She was rewarded with a divine release of power! Finally, the story ended with Jesus saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:34)
Taking the cue from this unnamed Biblical woman, aspirants for leadership positions ought to pursue that one great power! Political candidates should pursue public office to touch the clothes of a higher power—the kind that will enable them to experience what is good—healing, peace, freedom from suffering, wisdom, right direction, decency in speech and behavior, professionalism, and good governance! Such power can only come from the Almighty God through our Savior Jesus Christ, thus, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18).
Candidates for public office should reach out and touch the robe of Jesus and seek counsel from Him. They should ask for His reminder, His grace and the wisdom that only comes from Him. By imploring the aid of Almighty God, let these candidates be empowered for righteousness and not wickedness. Ambitious as this may seem, if the winning candidates for next year’s leadership positions will only pursue and wield the kind of power that comes from the Almighty God, then this country will usher in a glorious period where our nation will be governed with integrity and decency. A good source of power equals a virtuous yield.
No sooner than we can ever dream of, the pursuit of this better kind of power, after all, can prove to be exhausting yet rewarding, win or lose!
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.