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| The pioneer staff of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine From left, Andrew Ang, Rachel Lau, Lionel Lee, Lydia Tan, Chan Wei Chuen, Janet Teo |
'But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint.' Isaih 40:31
In the movie, "Chariots of Fire", Eric Liddell in explaining to his sister why he wanted to run in the Olympics said, “Jenny, when I run, I feel God’s pleasure”. My friend, Benjamin Ng noted Eric Liddell's statement with this comment, “What a change it will make in our lives and what an impact God will make in our society when we can say that we feel God’s pleasure when we work”.
Once, at Dover Park Hospice, an interviewee for the post of CEO, asked the panel, "What was expected of me on the job?" The answer that the interviewee got was Servant-Leadership. In some jobs like in working at a hospice, from the CEO to the kitchen staff requires an attitude of dedicated service. Leadership in such jobs needs an attitude and action of a servant; not to lord over others but to serve.
Around the same time in 2011, Singapore experienced a very exciting, some say a watershed general election. There was a groundswell of expectancy of the electorate to have politicians who will serve the people and not just their own interests, the party’s platform or indeed even the government’s agendas. That election brought a shift in the once one-party dorminance returning more opposition members into parliament.
Notwithstanding, the People's Action Party who has been in government from 1959 and eversince, won by a huge margin. But what ensued soon after was interesting. After winning a unexpectedly hard-fought election, the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, in introducing his cabinet said, “Politics is not a job or a career promotion. It is a calling to serve the larger good of Singapore.” On 28 May 2011, the PM issued a 'Rules of Prudence' letter to the PAP MPs and he reminded them of their responsibility to uphold the spirit of service to the people and work hard on their behalf.
This stance indicated an emphasis on people-centred leadership. I think the Prime Minister has demonstrated then and since, the ethos of 'Humility of Service.' This was well expressed by the apostle St. Paul
'Humility in Service' was dramatically demonstrated by Jesus Christ who took a basin of water and with a towel, wiped the feet of the disciples. Jesus’ example with the basin and towel is not only for the spiritual service of the church, the mission field or the monastery but for the everyday tasks in a busy world at the market and work places.
The photograph of the pioneer members of Singapore's newest Medical School, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine was taken in May 2011. At that time, we all felt that by God's grace we were given the mission to establish the School on a firm footing. It was time to be of service to the country once again and work hard to start-up the new school which saw its first intake of 54 students in August 2013. By 2021, LKCMedicine celebrated its 10th anniversary. Within 10 years, the school is listed in the top 100 medical schools list in the university rankings, an unprecedented achievement.
All of us save one person had since left the School. We left with a deep sense of a mission accomplished. We felt that to be of service to church, society, friends and country is a calling and privilege. Like Eric Lidell, it seems that we can feel God's pleasure at work. The Bible puts it more clearly
'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.' Col 3:23-24
Once, at Dover Park Hospice, an interviewee for the post of CEO, asked the panel, "What was expected of me on the job?" The answer that the interviewee got was Servant-Leadership. In some jobs like in working at a hospice, from the CEO to the kitchen staff requires an attitude of dedicated service. Leadership in such jobs needs an attitude and action of a servant; not to lord over others but to serve.
Around the same time in 2011, Singapore experienced a very exciting, some say a watershed general election. There was a groundswell of expectancy of the electorate to have politicians who will serve the people and not just their own interests, the party’s platform or indeed even the government’s agendas. That election brought a shift in the once one-party dorminance returning more opposition members into parliament.
Notwithstanding, the People's Action Party who has been in government from 1959 and eversince, won by a huge margin. But what ensued soon after was interesting. After winning a unexpectedly hard-fought election, the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, in introducing his cabinet said, “Politics is not a job or a career promotion. It is a calling to serve the larger good of Singapore.” On 28 May 2011, the PM issued a 'Rules of Prudence' letter to the PAP MPs and he reminded them of their responsibility to uphold the spirit of service to the people and work hard on their behalf.
This stance indicated an emphasis on people-centred leadership. I think the Prime Minister has demonstrated then and since, the ethos of 'Humility of Service.' This was well expressed by the apostle St. Paul
'We are encouraged to have the same mindset as Christ. He did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant' Philippians 2:5-7
'Humility in Service' was dramatically demonstrated by Jesus Christ who took a basin of water and with a towel, wiped the feet of the disciples. Jesus’ example with the basin and towel is not only for the spiritual service of the church, the mission field or the monastery but for the everyday tasks in a busy world at the market and work places.
It is certainly required of our political leaders, especially the Covid-19 task force leaders, at these very trying times of the Covid pandemic in Singapore. They have to navigate and balance between imposing restrictions to curb the spread of infection and opening up the community and country to protect economy and livelihood. They need to promote vaccination to a stubborn 20% of the population who continue to resist. They have to convince the population not to fear the inevitable endemicity of the virus for many more months and years ahead. (We hope that this endemic phase will be one of attentuated severity achieved by a high vaccination rate.)
Every press conference is clearly difficult for these leaders who, not only have to relay information but to assuage the worries of people and businesses. Few appreciate their efforts. Some criticised these leaders vehemently and with much vitriol, which goes unabated in internet chatter and chat groups. It is very sad to watch.
How can our doctors, nurses, medical workers, nursing home staff, frontline workers and leaders carry on? Many have a sense of passion and purpose. It is not the money, it is a service-mentality often characterise by humility
The Greek word for humility tapeinophrosunē is literally translated 'lowliness of the mind'. How we treat other people depend entirely on how we think of them and how we evaluate them. In our mind’s evaluation of our subordinates, our bosses, our colleagues we are to count them better than ourselves. This means to place a value of others as being more important than ourselves; to consider their dignity and worth. Humility is the attitude, mindset and basis for all our relationship building, our collegiality at the workplace.
Humility begins with the mind but it continues into conduct and service, that is to say, humility is 'action-able'. Jesus took actions:
Humility begins with the mind but it continues into conduct and service, that is to say, humility is 'action-able'. Jesus took actions:
• He emptied himself,• He became a servant• He was made in human likeness• He humbled himself• He became obedient• He died on the cross
After winning the men's 400m gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, Eric Liddell followed in his parents' footsteps and served as a missionary to China from 1925 to 1943. He served in Tianjin and Xiaozhang. He was interned during the Japanese occupation of China and died in 1945 just five months before liberation. In 2008 near the time of the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese authorities revealed to his family that Liddell had refused an opportunity to leave the camp and instead gave up his place for freedom to a pregnant woman.
Serving like a servant at our workplaces; is this possible? It becomes possible when we realise that it is not just our colleagues or bosses whom we serve but God. Like Eric, we hope to feel God’s pleasure.
In 1991, a memorial headstone in Eric's memory was unveiled at the former concentration camp in Weifang and on it is inscribed, "They shall mount up with wings as eagle, they shall run and not be weary." Isaiah 40:31
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
Who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
my Rock in whom I trust'
And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breadth of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand
You need fear the terror of the night
Nor the arrow that flies by day
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come
For to His angels He's given a command
To guard you in all of your ways
Upon His hands they will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stone
And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breadth of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand
Lionel
Updated 1st published on 28 May 11.
