“Person Of Interest” and Leadership

BREATHE!

Bingeing “Person of Interest” on Netflix, and on-track to finish up by end of day today. Yesterday, I was at episode 10 of the climactic season Five, the end of the story. It was only thirteen episodes long. So…our heroes are isolated, exhausted, have lost all their allies…all seems lost, as they are fighting an all-powerful Artificial Intelligence known as “Samaritan”. Only three episodes to get out of a hole they’ve spent five years digging themselves into? THAT is a “Dark Night of the Soul” for you: it feels like nothing you have is enough to win, in a context in which defeat is unthinkable. What do you do?

What is the way out of the “Dark Night”? THE LEAP OF FAITH. And faith in what? Either your own capacity, your allies, or a “higher power.” And there was a scene toward the end of the episode that was a thrilling expression of this.

SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING

Unexpectedly, the very people they’ve been saving for five years are popping back up, with resources and commitment, joining the fight! This was perfect, as it used ALL THREE elements of faith:

1. Self. Our heroes never, ever quit. They were determined to go down fighting.
2. Companions. They believed in and supported each other…and now have NEW companions, based on their good works of the past. They “cast their bread upon the waters” so to speak.
3. Higher Power. “The Machine” is a man-made “god” being. And now, given the power to defend…