Make Me Thy Fuel O Flame Of God
This book, Failure of Nerve, by Edwin Friedman, was compiled from writings ten years after the author had passed away. It was Friedman’s opinion in these writings that under pressure, most leaders will give in to the weakest member of the organization because of fear of retaliation. [1] Their giving in to these people causes the links in the chain of leadership to be frail. This is where the title, “failure of nerve” originated.
When I think of Christian leaders who had this type of nerve to take a stand no matter what, Amy Carmichael comes to mind. You may not be familiar with her. She was an Irish missionary in India for 55 years, and wrote 35 books while there. She never took a furlough back home! When she was a small child, she prayed and asked God to change her eye color from brown to blue. Really believing He would hear and answer her prayer, she slept anxiously awaiting her new blue eyes in the morning. She was so disappointed to wake to the same old brown ones. Later, she felt Him speak to her heart that “no” is also an answer to prayer. It would be many years later that she would find a dire need for brown eyes in her service for the Lord and His kingdom.
A Capacity to Get Outside the Emotional Climate of the Day
Friedman talks about the need for clarity and decisiveness. [2] Amy Carmichael devoted her life to rescuing orphaned children in India, primarily girls, and began a safe-haven for them she named Donovan. At one time she had over 1,000 children living with her as her own children. At a moment’s notice she made decisions to rescue these children and incorporate them into life in Donovan.
Willingness to Be Exposed and Vulnerable
You have to take risks to be this type of a leader. [3] You must make yourself vulnerable. [4] This is exactly what Amy Carmichael did time and again. She would hear about orphan children being sold as temple prostitutes. Her heart would break for these children and she would want to rescue them. So she would dress as a local Indian woman in a traditional sari, using coffee to dye her skin a bit. Since her eyes were already brown, no one paid her any attention. She would go in and out of the temples unhindered, with easy access to the children. Once they were safely at Donovan, they would be free.
Persistence in the Face of Resistance and Rejection
When you have nerve as a leader, you have to not care what people think. You have to be willing to take a stand at all costs. You must even be willing to take a stand at your own cost. Amy Carmichael did just that, time and again. People from the temples hated her because she rescued so many of the children from their midst. They had purchased these children from poor, struggling families. Therefore the temples were losing money and they didn’t like it. They didn’t like Amy. But Amy was defiant in the face of opposition.
Stamina in the Face of Sabotage
Particularly in the early years, much was done to try to stop Amy Carmichael in her efforts to rescue the temple children. However, she pressed on. She had a calling and a vision. And God had given her strength to proceed.
Perception as Being Headstrong
I mentioned earlier that in 55 years in India, Amy Carmichael never went on a furlough. It is customary, even in those days, every 4-8 years or so for missionaries to go on a furlough. However, Amy did not want to leave her station or her children. Her family kept growing and the work increasing. In the later years, she fell and injured herself so terribly that she became bedridden for the last 19 years of her life. It was during this time that she wrote most of her books. They started out as letters and writings to her family from her bed and later were published. In her early years she had written:
“Let me not sink to be a clod, make me thy fuel O flame of God.” [5]
She was so concerned about becoming a burden on others later in life. She just wanted to die suddenly. That wasn’t what God intended though. Thankfully for the rest of us, her pain and time of being bedridden left us a beautiful legacy of her leadership and service that we would otherwise not have today. [6]
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[1] Friedman, Edwin. 2017. A Failure of Nerve. 10th ed. New York, NY: Church Publishing.
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Carmichael, Amy. 2003. If. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications.
[6] Elliot, Elisabeth. 1994. A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael. Carlisle: OM Pub.
About the Author
Tonette Kellett
Missionary, teacher, Bible student, traveler ... Having lived in Kenya and Korea, I now live in Mississippi and work with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.9 responses to “Make Me Thy Fuel O Flame Of God”
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Tonette,
Standing ovation……I loved your blog!
My heart swelled upon hearing of this personal hero-Amy Carmichael! I read a Chance to Die when I was a teenager. It was refreshing to learn of this female Kingdom warrior when I did not have female role models in leadership positions growing up.
Thank you for championing her in your blog and using her as an example to follow as a differentiated leader.
This was a spiritual breath of fresh air!!
Kristy,
I’m so pleased that you too have read Elisabeth Elliot’s book A Chance to Die on a Amy Carmichael’s life. I fell in love with both of these women while in college and have read everything I could find about and by both of them. They are fabulous women leaders and examples for missionaries, male or female!
Tonette – Thank you for introducing me to Amy Carmichael as an example of a differentiated leader. I am eager to explore her work now. Your descriptions painted a vivid picture of a woman who knew her calling and did not waiver! I think Friedman would be proud.
Laura,
You would enjoy her work and life story I believe. It’s an inspiration.
Tonette! Wow, I loved your blog and am so motivated by Amy Carmichael’s courage, devotion, and strength! Thank you for weaving her story into your writings of Friedman this week. I especially like this quote of yours: “When you have nerve as a leader, you have to not care what people think. You have to be willing to take a stand at all costs. You must even be willing to take a stand at your own cost.”
Thank you for inspiring me.
Jenny,
Thank you for your words of encouragement. You are always so very kind.
Tonette,
What a wonderful post. I so enjoyed reading it.
You are a great storyteller. You and Amy Carmichael are inspirations.
Audrey,
You would really enjoy reading about her life. She has also written many poems that are lovely, some quite convicting. “If” is my favorite of her poetry books.
Tonnette- when I read your blog I feel like im have a deep conversation with a wonderful friend!!!!
I wonder…..How can a willingness to be exposed and vulnerable combined with persistence in the face of resistance and rejection help a leader take risks and make decisions?
I’m still processing this after reading though!!! Don’t feel like you have to answer….