The King’s Speech
When someone holds a position of power we forget that they are just human and endure hardships too.
Reference: v.5a The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: I recently saw the award winning movie The King’s Speech. It was a brilliant story of King George VI of Britain retold through the acting abilities of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. The King suffered a stutter and when he was brought into power he found it very difficult to articulate himself in public. The story tells of his speech therapist and how he assisted the king to overcome his challenges. It’s an enlightening look into the life of such a revered and private man. When someone holds a position of power we forget that they are just human and endure hardships too. When they are in the limelight it seems that they are easy pickings to point the finger at and attack behind their backs. And yet each person, no matter what position they are in, goes through their own traumas.
Application: I was reminded of the humanness of people in power when I read about the kings of Judah. Although King Azariah reigned for fifty-two years he suffered with leprosy. If you speak to any person in a leadership role you wont have to dig very deep until you find a burden they are carrying. We all have them. It’s just that we expect a leader to put all their burdens aside to carry those beneath them. There is a point where the leaders need to take on the responsibilities of their role but it’s also important for us not to forget that they are real people too and they need love, care and space like everyone else.
Prayer: Lord, we all carry around scars and hurts. May we have the strength to work through our own concerns while still having the compassion to care for those around us. Amen.
What hurt do you carry with you? How does it affect your relationships?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.