Lead On, O Kinky Turtle!

I grew up singing hymns of the faith. But as a kid with an active imagination and plenty of time, I liked to switch hymn lyrics in weird ways.

I’m not alone in creative lyric switching, of course. And it’s not just hymns that offer lyrics ready-made for replacement.

Some lyrics switches are legendary:

   God Bless America: “through the night with a light from a bulb” (instead of “with a light from above”)

   Jimi Hendrix: “excuse me, while I kiss this guy” (instead of “kiss the sky”)

   Pink Floyd: “No dogs or cats are in the classroom” (instead of “dark sarcasm in the classroom”)

   Hymn: “Gladly, the cross-eyed bear” (instead of “gladly, the cross I’d bear”)

   Christmas hymn: “Sleep in heavenly peas” (instead of “sleep in heavenly peace”)

Lead On, O King Eternal

The lyric switch I thought funniest as a kid was changing “Lead on, o King eternal” to “lead on, o kinky turtle.” In fact, I have difficulty singing the original lyrics when, on the rare occasion, I sing that song today!

The music of the hymn feels like a march to war. But a close look at some of the hymn’s lyrics reveals that the methods of holy war are far different from the usual. Here’s the second verse, for instance:

   Lead on, O King eternal,

   till sin’s fierce war shall cease,

   and holiness shall whisper

   the sweet amen of peace.

   For not with swords loud clashing,

   nor roll of stirring drums;

   with deeds of love and mercy

   the heavenly kingdom comes.

I absolutely love these lyrics! (Now, will someone find a more contemporary melody for them?)

The personification of holiness that “whispers the sweet amen of peace,” for instance, is a way of talking about holiness I find winsome. For peace, in its fullest sense, is more than an absence of conflict. It’s full-bodied well-being, abundant life, flourishing, and blessedness.

And instead of swords and drums, this war is waged with deeds of love and mercy. This is the kind of war in which I want to soldier, and this is the future for which I long!

Leadership in God’s Reign of Love

I’ve been thinking lately about what kind of leader God might be. Many of us consciously or unconsciously imitate God’s leadership style. It’s a kind of leadership imitatio dei, to use the Latin. And if we’re imitating God’s leadership, the way we think God leads will shape our own leadership ideals.

I think God’s leadership is persuasive not controlling. In love and mercy, God invites us to participate in the love revolution God instigates.

Instead of vanquishing foes in coercive fashion, I think God beckons, listens, empowers, guides, and seeks cooperation. I think God walks before us, alongside us, and behind us. But I don’t think God ever uses swords either to coerce us or to slay those who might come against us.

And if God leads like that, perhaps this should be our mode of leadership. Perhaps we should “imitate God, as beloved children, and live a life of love…,” to quote the Apostle Paul. Perhaps persuasive power invites cooperation and shuns domination.

This week, NNU’s Wesley Center hosts its “Leadership in God’s Reign of Love” conference. I’ll be listening to what a fabulous set of plenary speakers and workshop leaders say about leadership. And I’ll be wondering, “Is God’s leadership like that?” and “So what does this mean for me as a leader?”

I hope to see you at the conference!