I was chatting with a friend the other day about the looming deadlines for our papers. Mine is an article for publication as part of my PhD course. Hers is a Master’s thesis. Both of us are struggling to get writing and finish.

Partly, it is the holidays. They disrupted our flow. Then I was fighting off a virus I am still recovering from. For me, it is always the same - I read and take notes. Repeat. Repeat. Then I think, all the information swirling around in my head. All at once, it settles into some semblance of order and then sitting at the computer, words flow through my fingers onto the keyboard. It’s like a juggler with all the plates swirling in the air, looking like they will all crash…and then the juggler catches them all in an amazing feat of balance and precision.

The article I am writing already has a draft of the abstract and outline written. All my references are collected. I have some notes done and underlined sentences for quotes, but there is still more reading to do.

The other pressure is that I must find a journal in which to publish my article. Talk about pressure! I already sent a draft of the abstract and a list of references to a journal, and I am hoping (and afraid) they will write back and say, “Hey, we love this! Please send us the finished article.”

My article is about Transformational Servant Leadership (TSL) (see my other posts here and here) and how this style of leadership would appeal to and benefit GenZ. This is also the subject of my dissertation, so I am hoping I can use this as a kickstart to that.

My outline looks like this:

Abstract

Introduction

Christological Basis for TSL

• Who was Jesus?

• What did he show us?

• What did he say about leadership?

• How did he lead?

Transformational Servant Leadership

• What is Transformational Leadership

• What is Servant Leadership

• Merging the two

Generation Z and Leadership

• Who are they?

• What do they see in leadership now?

• What do they want in leaders/ship?

• How TSL would appeal to and benefit GenZ

Conclusion

I am working on the first section, the Christological basis for TSL, starting with where this style comes from, who it is styled after, and what it is based on. It is looking at Jesus and how he led.

Even for people who do not follow the Christian faith, looking at the leadership of Jesus, a man from the working class from the Middle East 2000 years ago, who led 12 students, teaching them a revolutionary new view of an ancient belief system, whose teachings spread all over the known world, and whose values (Judeo Christian) are the basis of the western world, is alone worthy of study. This man was a revolutionary who elevated women into more active participants in their faith, discipleship, and leadership. He turned things upside down, choosing people from the lower working classes and helping them transform into missional leaders. On its merit, this accomplishment is outstanding. Most ambitious leaders today can only dream about this kind of accomplishment and legacy. This is kinda/sorta the point - Jesus was concerned with people as individuals, their healing and salvation, and their transformation. He was not into success, power, and prestige.

Ambition did not come into it.

Legacy did not come into it.

Pride did not come into it.

As an ordained minister who preached Jesus’ message for 30 years, why am I having trouble writing about his life as a leader? What is stopping me from getting words on the paper? You know, I am using this section of my Substack to get myself writing, and I hope it works because…

I feel stuck.

The words are not yet swirling.

Did I read enough? Maybe not.

Is it stressors in my life - likely.

Am I worried for nothing?

Probably

I am learning to relax and let things happen as they’re supposed to (after several decades, it took me long enough.) It is hard work, though. So what am I doing?

• Speaking positive phrases to myself.

• Using my Lectio app

• Practicing mindfulness

• Assuring myself it will come when it’s finished percolating.

• Reminding myself of my past writing successes, including my MA research report.

• Doing some needlework (a break from knitting) to unwind and detach from worry.

For you writers out there, what are some of your tips for breaking the block? By the way, I had no trouble at all writing this piece. I just sat down and wrote. It is just that article looming over me…

I will let you know how it goes.

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