A leader is both dangerous and good.

It was a truth I took away from a Catholic retreat.

Our director showed a clip in The Lord of the Rings, where Boromir was shot by arrows. This was to showcase the kind of battle we live in. The enemy picks out the toughest and meanest in the crowd, such as Boromir, and takes him out.

Each man lives in a story that consists of a lifelong and brutal assault on their heart.

We can choose to let our hearts be taken ransom in captivity, or we can choose to battle and be set free. And it requires two things: to be dangerous and to be good.

I define good as someone who is virtuous.

I will mention it’s not about being nice, complacent, passive, or timid. It’s about growing in prudence, temperance, justice, and courage.

On the other hand, someone who is dangerous makes other people around them feel like they’re on their toes. These people might not know what to expect. In this case we define dangerous in the context of being good. Will they challenge me to greatness? Will they call me out on something that wasn’t appropriate? It’s about being feared because we don’t want to mess with them. Think of Boromir, fighting to the end.

So here are some ways we can be dangerous. I mixed in some recent and personal examples.

Speak Up—Making our voices heard so that we stick up for what is right. Requires that we speak in both charity and truth, and that our speech is edifying, true, and necessary. E.g. I had a vulnerable conversation with a friend where I encouraged him against a struggle with an addiction. We broke new ground in our friendship.

Stand Up—Acting against evil or acting for the good. Requires that we get off our butts and put passivity aside. E.g. I accidentally forgot to pay for lunch. A few days later, I went back and decided to pay it back, even though they forgot about it. They respected my integrity!

Follow Up—Keeping our family, friends, and coworkers accountable to virtue and goodness. Requires that we really care for others. E.g. I checked in with a friend who wanted help with personal prayer. He got it done.

Make Up—Forgiving and seeking reconciliation when mistakes are made. Requires that we are humble. E.g. I didn’t do a task properly at work that caused a bit of concern on our back end. I called my supervisor and apologized, and I also said how I would try my best next time. Trust was built.

Love Up—Sacrificing ourselves for others and for our greater mission. Requires total self-gift. E.g. I helped my Mom after her surgery by caring for her dog and spending time with her. While I may not have been faithful to helping her with dishes, I was present during a hard time. My Mom was very grateful.

As I look to my own leadership, there are still areas where I am more of a coward than a dangerous man. And there are times when I fall into vice as opposed to growing in virtue. But the point is to strive this moral excellence. It’s a work in progress.