Do you have Qi? The word Qi pronounced “Chee” Is traditional Chinese medicine commonly defined as vital energy or life force that keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health in balance. Those of you who have followed this blog for any amount of time know that I frequently refer to our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being when writing about rest and life balance. However, I don’t write from a traditional Chinese medicine viewpoint, but instead approach these four areas of life from a biblical viewpoint, with the recognition that the bible declares we are fearfully and wonderfully made, body, soul, and spirit. All three parts are inextricably connected and make up who we are as human beings.

I’ll revisit this subject in a future post, but for today I want to ask you about a different kind of Qi (Chee). Do you have (Qi) “quiet influence”? There’s a lot of talk these days about influencers on social media. Those with huge followings often in the millions, who influence people through their personality and platforms often impacting public opinion and the behavior of their followers in almost a cult like fashion. Of course, there is nothing wrong with influencing others.

One well known speaker’s classic definition of leadership says, “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.” I agree that leadership certainly involves influencing others toward certain behaviors and goals. But that is not the sum total of what makes an effective leader. But let’s park for a bit on the idea of influence. Influence can be highly positive but also terribly negative and destructive.

For every leader who has had a positive impact on people there are those who have led multitudes astray. A leader can have a manipulative personality and influence others to do things they normally wouldn’t consider. A leader’s integrity or lack thereof has everything to do with the kind of influence they exert. Motive is a key factor. If the leaders motive to influence others is so that they can make a name for themselves, acquire power, or financial gain, this kind of influence is clearly unhealthy.

Jesus did not teach this kind of leadership. In fact, He didn’t teach leadership from a position of authority at all. He taught just the opposite, leadership by example and service. When two of His disciples asked to have positions of power and authority, the other disciples became rather indignant, (probably because they didn’t get a chance to ask first.) Jesus replies, “The rulers and leaders lead and lord it over people and have control and authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. “

Jesus then adds, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many.”  Influence is incredibly good and positive when done from a position of service and “quiet influence” (qi) rather than through power, control, or manipulation. Make it your aim to live a quiet life and have “quiet influence” on those in your circle of influence.

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