I had the good fortune to be sent the book, “The Final Summit” by Andy Andrews, an author I had not read before but whose words I found moving and whose story I found captivating.
In “The Final Summit” the main character, David Ponder, is brought from Earth to Heaven by the Archangel Gabriel to convene with the greatest leaders in the history of the world. He is chosen because it is believed that his own search for wisdom has prepared him for the task of solving a dire mystery with the fate of mankind at stake. They gather to answer the question,
“What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?”
It’s not an easy question to answer, and the attendees of this Summit must answer the question in the time allotted by a large, gold hourglass. They are told by Archangel Gabriel the answer, “is a mere two words.”
The Summit’s Design
Prior to the convening, David Ponder discovers he has been appointed the leader of this quest, and has the unique opportunity to spend some time alone with Winston Churchill. He is able to understand who Winston was as a man and as a leader, and what it would have been like to have lived and led from Churchill’s shoes. It’s incredibly powerful.
Of course, this conveys the stark reality of how our leadership style is shaped by our life and the forces we meet on our journey.
As the story unfolds, David is told that Churchill will be an adviser, and he will have the opportunity to call upon five more of the world’s greatest leaders to assist in determining the correct answer. However, he does not have the ability to choose the five, they have already been predetermined.
If You Were Called…
The book is riveting because of the anticipation over who will be called forth, what you will learn about this leader through his or her own eyes, and how they will contribute to answering the mystery. But you simply cannot help, as you read the book, asking yourself what your own experiences have taught you and how you would contribute to the Summit. What would you do if you were one of the five to be called upon, and the fate of mankind rested with you? Would you answer the call from a place of confidence or from a place of fear?
Would you deem yourself worthy to be at the Summit in the first place?
It is partly because this book compels great introspection, and partly because it’s such a riveting read, that I highly recommend it to all leaders, as well as those looking to better understand what lies at the heart of leadership.
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5 Response Comments
Interesting story. In some ways, all of us are called. Because each person, making a little change or doing something good, can contribute and collectively make the same kind of difference a leader can.
We can make a difference by volunteering to help our fellow man. We don’t have to be in a leadership position but can put ourselves in one by getting out and making a difference wherever we see those that need help.
A second point: Just because we are not a great leader, that doesn’t stop us from learning constantly what a great leader does, how they do it, and how we can learn leadership from them. We make ourselves a lot better by observing, and then, if possible, duplicating.
Henry,
I agree…we are all called, though in different ways. We can all be leaders in our own way; we have the potential, it’s up to us to choose. And in regard to your second point, I think I might phrase it as, “Just because we are not a famous leader…” because famous leaders are certainly not the only ones who are great. 🙂 Brilliant points as always, Henry – thank you so much for sharing them with us.
I believe also that we are all “called” to serve where we are in the grand scheme of life…”no man/woman is an island”. Hence, I don’t believe it is a, “worthiness” issue. We are all worthy and have our own inner greatness to be cultivated….and that’s the trick, will one cultivate their gift. It is not a given that this happens on our journey. It takes effort and commitment.
That being said, I believe that some of the greatest leaders and visionaries have had to overcome some of the greatest challenges. I certainly have come to see how coming through the fire has burned away tons of dross from my personality. And, I’m all the wiser for it. Self-compassion would go a long, long way toward saving humanity. Until we reconcile our “stories”, forgive and eliminate those “cataracts of the soul” that block our vision for our true potential, we will continue to be blinded by self imposed limitations that unconsciously block us from being the collaborative leaders that the world needs in order to become a better place for everyone.
Valencia,
This is so stunningly eloquent. I love how you talk about self-compassion going a long, long way toward saving humanity. I absolutely agree. When we see the beauty of our inner selves – our souls – and embrace them with all of their textures, that’s when we can begin to change the world through our own inner power…our divinity. We do block ourselves from this when we impose limitations or see ourselves as unworthy.
Thank you so much for your inspiring insights…
Lisa, talk about “stunningly eloquent”, I love your comment!