The Leadership That Keeps on Giving

Recently, I was talking with Cynthia Lockhart when she mentioned something that she experienced with the choir. Cynthia is the director of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen Choir that is made up of guests who come to eat and a few who volunteer at the soup kitchen. She said that on one rehearsal day, she did not call upon the group to sing at all. Instead, she asked the choir members to each say something about her/himself that evidenced a gift or talent that the person possessed. A few didn’t have anything at all to say, so Cynthia called on others present who might point out a talent or gift that they saw in that individual. Several did say they noticed this or that about the person and identified gifts they were not even aware of. The result of that evening had lasting effects in building up the spirits of each of the choir members. They enjoyed saying something positive about themselves and one another—something they don’t always hear from others. Cynthia said that once a month they try to stimulate conversation of this kind around a given topic. So, the choir activity isn’t just about singing, but acknowledging the song in one’s heart and reaching greater potential on many levels. Thanks, Cynthia, for the leadership that keeps on giving. 

Author: Br. Bob Malloy
Capuchin Soup Kitchen Pastoral Director