Strategists
Esther and Harriet
Strategists
The Stories of Esther and Harriet
Prologue
As the story goes, a man was hit by a poisoned arrow and approached the Buddha in distress, pleading for guidance on how to heal from the poison.
The Buddha reminded the man that when things happen in life, that’s the first arrow - the unavoidable challenges in life, such as loss, illness, rejection, fear, disappointment, aging, and grief. No one escapes the pain and tragedy of life, but how we respond to the poisoned arrow is the second arrow. The story of the Second Arrow describes the power of our minds.
The second arrow requires courage, a heart response of mental and moral strength to correct a wrong or to fulfil a purpose. Courage is the ability to control one’s fear and act despite it. It is the settling of the mind that creates courageous acts, setting aside vulnerability to create change.
Don’t let your fear, anger, or panic distort your perception. If you stay grounded, you will be able to determine a strategy.
Courage and change require strategies that meet the moment. Courageous people we cite in history had considerable challenges and approached the moment strategically, making a difference in the lives of people in their communities. I define community loosely as either racial, ethnic, or religious groups, recognizing that there are other definitions of community.
Two courageous women who piqued my interest are Esther, whose life and significance were captured in the Old Testament, the Book of Esther, and Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds of enslaved Africans to freedom.
The Story of Esther
Esther, a young Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, lived within the harem of King Ahasuerus of Persia. Women in the harem sometimes overheard political discussions and plans and were not considered threats. Esther learned that the king’s advisor, Haman, was plotting to annihilate Jews as retribution after Mordecai refused to bow to him. Esther learned of the plot and approached the king uninvited to reveal it. The king ordered the execution of Haman, and Esther became Queen of Persia.
Esther faced the first arrow, the threat to Mordecai and the Jewish community, as well as fear and danger from possible punishment from her assertive action, but she did not allow the second arrow to take hold. Esther decided to act for the benefit of others: she chose to face danger to save others.
The Courage of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman, nicknamed “ Moses,” is remembered for her bravery in the face of extreme danger and risking her life for her people. Born and enslaved in Maryland around 1822, she escaped bondage but returned 13 times to the South to free other enslaved Africans, liberating about 70 people between 1850 and 1860. As a prologue to her life of freeing others, she made a solo trip and envisioned freedom for others. As a prologue to her actions, she sustained a traumatic brain injury from protecting another enslaved person when she was 13.
Harriette Tubman is extraordinary because of her moral courage, planning, improvisation, and psychological insight. She was willing to face the dangers as long as she could trust her own mind, plans, and ability to adapt to unexpected threats. Her leadership demonstrated mindful agility.
She understood enslavers and those who sought freedom, and was known to discourage those who were fearful because they could be liabilities on the journey northward. She never lost a passenger on the “Underground Railroad” in part because she understood the effects of fear. Harriet Tubman fought in other ways for freedom: as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Freeing the Mind
Out of necessity, Esther and Harriet embodied non-reactive awareness, detachment from personal outcomes, and presence. Liberation occurs in the mind before it occurs in our external reality, so spiritual practice - meditation and prayer - trains the mind to value strategy over fear, and grounded action over impulsivity. We could call this response to high-stakes situations strategic intelligence.
Key takeaways:
1. You cannot fight something you have not named. If you label it, you can control it, including thoughts about it.
2. Fears suggest many “what-ifs” in response to problems, but fewer solutions.
3. Stillness is not withdrawal; it is the ground for wise action. Stillness reduces the noise in the mind.
4. Understanding an opponent and pacing are critical aspects of strategy. An accurate assessment of the situation is the foundation of a viable strategy.
5. Romanticizing the journey to liberation is not helpful to stay clear-eyed.
May you be enriched and encouraged by the extraordinary lives of Esther and Harriet.
Peace and blessings,
Ndidi (Eleanor)
