The Problem of Glory
“Glory, simply put, is a problem” (p. 126). This statement by Dr. Richard Hughes Gibson in his just released book, The Way of Dante: Going Through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven with C. S. Lewis, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Charles Williams (2025), is such an apt view of glory. We can look at glory as problematic both from a Christian aspect and our everyday lives. Glory is very hard to define and hard to grasp. Gibson pointed out that C.S. Lewis viewed the idea of “glory” as problematic primarily because it can be misunderstood or misused.
In his writings, especially in The Problem of Pain and The Weight of Glory, C. S. Lewis emphasized that true glory is rooted in humility and is ultimately a reflection of God’s greatness, rather than something to be sought for personal pride or recognition. Lewis wrote in is 1941 sermon The Weight of Glory, “Salvation is constantly associated with palms, crowns, white robes, thrones, and splendor like the sun and stars. All this makes no immediate appeal to me at all, and in that respect I fancy I am a typical modern” (p. 35). Lewis went on to say, “Either glory means to me fame, or it means luminosity. As for the first, since to be famous means to be better known than other people, the desire for fame appears to me as a competitive passion and therefore of hell rather than heaven. As for the second, who wishes to become a kind of living electric light bulb?” (p. 36).
Lewis was warning against pursuing glory as a means to elevate oneself above others or to gain superficial honor, as this can lead to pride and spiritual downfall. Instead, he was advocating understanding glory as a gift from God, something bestowed in humility and gratitude, not a human achievement to be flaunted. We would all do well to remember this is our everyday lives today.
Thinking Before Acting: Embracing Multiple Perspectives for Better Decisions
In The Father Brown Stories, G. K. Chesterton created a conversation between Father Brown and Flambeau where it was said, “There’s a disadvantage in a stick pointing straight,” answered the other. “What is it? Why, the other end of the stick always points the opposite way. It depends whether you get hold of the stick by the right end. I saw the thing done once and I’ve never believed in it since” (p. 118). I loved this. It offers a valuable lesson and analogy about perception, perspective, and the importance of understanding context. The pointing of the stick highlights how our assumptions or initial perceptions can be misleading if we don’t consider the full picture.
The key takeaway for me was that things are often not what they seem at first glance. Just as grabbing a stick by one end reveals a different direction on the other, approaching problems, people, or situations without fully understanding their context can lead to misunderstandings or errors. Chesterton suggested the importance of perspective—seeing things from multiple angles before forming a conclusion.
Chesterton may have never intended those lines to serve as a leadership lesson encouraging us to:
- Avoid jumping to conclusions based solely on initial impressions.
- Recognize that different perspectives can reveal truths that are not immediately visible.
- Approach challenges with curiosity and an open mind, considering all sides before acting.
But, that thought of a stick pointing both directions sure made me ponder. How about you?
Leading With Rituals
I had a person recently comment that they liked that I use a lot of rituals when working with groups. I am a lover of rituals. Rituals are important whether working with students or adults. We Americans think of ourselves as not being very ritualistic, but really we are. For example, did you take those first day of school photos of your kids? We did! We took one every year k-12 and even when we were leaving to move my son in for his first year of college. That picture was by the same lamppost next to our sidewalk leading into the house every year. We have them all framed together. It was even such a ritual that my son found a lamppost on Murray State’s campus and got a photo each year. I really like the Cambridge Dictionary definition of ritual: “a way of doing something in which the same actions are done in the same way every time.” Rituals are important for organizations and leaders because they help foster a sense of identity, unity, and shared purpose among members.
When I was teaching, a ritual I did for every class, every day was standing at the door to my classroom and shaking every students’ hand. It is amazing how this builds relationships and what you can tell about a student when shaking their hand. When possible, I do this when working with adults as well. It’s a ritual I do whenever possible.
Another ritual I do for workshops is have every person make a name tent. One it helps me learn names and well as personalize the experience by using names. These rituals serve as symbols that reinforce organizational values and culture, creating a sense of stability and continuity.
Rituals also enhance morale by providing meaningful moments of celebration, recognition, or reflection, which can boost motivation and engagement. For leaders, establishing rituals helps to communicate core messages consistently, build trust, and strengthen relationships within the team.
Byron's Babbles 
1 comment