Here is a story I noted in my journal in November, 2009. An encounter took place between King Christian X of Denmark and a Nazi officer shortly after the occupation of the Danish capital in April 1940. It is said that when the king looked out the window of the palace and saw the Nazi flag with its swastika flying over the roofs of the government buildings, he called for a meeting with the commander of the occupying forces.
The king requested the flag be removed. The Nazi officer refused.
King Christian walked a few feet away and spent some moments in thought. He approached the officer once more. “And what will you do if I send a soldier to take it down?” “I will have him shot,” the officer replied. “I don’t believe you will,” said the king quietly, “when you see the soldier I send.”
The officer demanded that the king explain himself. King Christian said, “I will be the soldier.” The flag came down wit
Here are some questions I noted: Where is the line between being courageous and being rash? What must my inner ‘king’ risk when I am confronted by my internal occupying forces? What are those internal occupying forces that challenge my integrity? What sustains me in my ‘leadership moment?’
Searcher-Seeker 