The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision.

Hear, O children of the future, the words of Theodore Hesburgh, the long-serving president of Notre Dame, a man of wisdom and clarity: “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” These words cut to the marrow of what it means to lead. For leadership is not merely the possession of authority, nor the empty sound of command. It is the bearing of a vision that stirs the hearts of men, and the clarity of purpose that guides them through confusion. Without vision, leadership is hollow; without certainty, direction is lost.

What is vision? It is the ability to see what others cannot yet see, to imagine what could be when all others remain trapped in what is. Vision is not a dream of idle fancy, but the fire of destiny glimpsed before its time. A leader must carry this fire and guard it, for it illuminates the path where there is no road, and gives courage to the weary when darkness surrounds them. Vision is the compass by which followers navigate. Without it, they wander like ships adrift on a foggy sea.

And what is the uncertain trumpet? In ancient days, the trumpet was the call to battle, the sound that rallied warriors, the signal that gave direction in the chaos of war. If the trumpet sounded uncertain, hesitant, or unclear, the soldiers would falter, unsure whether to advance, retreat, or hold the line. So it is with leadership. When the leader’s voice trembles, when his purpose wavers, when his vision is clouded, the people grow confused, discouraged, and divided. The uncertain trumpet leads not to victory but to ruin.

Consider the tale of Joan of Arc, the maiden of France. Her people were lost, broken by war, and uncertain of their future. Yet Joan bore a clear vision—that France could rise again, that God’s hand was upon their destiny. She spoke with certainty, rallied armies, and lifted a nation from despair. Though young and untrained, her trumpet was not uncertain, and her vision was pure. Through her clarity, she gave her people courage to achieve what had seemed impossible.

So too did Martin Luther King Jr. embody Hesburgh’s words. At a time when millions longed for freedom yet feared to hope, he stood with a vision of equality and justice. His trumpet was not uncertain. His voice rang out with clarity in his dream of a future where children of every race would walk together as brothers and sisters. That vision gave strength to weary marchers, courage to the oppressed, and unity to a movement. His leadership was not in his power to command, but in his power to envision and declare without hesitation.

Thus we see the truth of Hesburgh’s teaching: the essence of leadership lies not in authority, but in clarity of vision. The uncertain trumpet, the wavering word, the hesitant command—these betray both leader and people alike. The leader must see the destination with certainty, even if the path is perilous, and call his people toward it with a voice that cannot be doubted.

The lesson for you, O listeners, is clear: if you would lead, cultivate vision. Do not speak until you have seen the truth of where you would go. Do not call others to action unless your own heart is certain. Be clear in your purpose, unwavering in your voice, and steadfast in your vision. And if you follow, choose leaders whose trumpets ring true, whose voices do not falter, whose vision lifts you beyond the present into a brighter tomorrow.

Therefore, let your practice be this: each day, seek clarity of purpose in your own life. Ask yourself—what is my vision? Where am I leading others, whether in family, in work, or in community? And when you find it, sound your trumpet boldly, without uncertainty. For as Hesburgh declared, the very essence of leadership is vision, and without it, the music of leadership becomes a hollow echo, but with it, it becomes the call that can lead nations into greatness.