Think About It

          It wasn’t too long ago we were being introduced to a great thing referred to as the “Information Superhighway”.  Through this new way of communicating we would have news, knowledge and facts at our fingertips.  Well, like than other type of highway, the newness has worn off.  It is still very functional, practical and easy to use, but potholes and pitstops have become a lot more prevalent.  Over the past few years social and informational networking has become such a part of our lives that it can be overwhelming and confusing.  With all the resources at our disposal we are forced to ask some simple, but vital questions:  What information is true?  What information is important?  What sources of information are reliable?            While “truth in information” is a question for the 21 st Century, this has been an challenge through the ages – not as it applies t...

Which is easier:  To appreciate people for what they do or to criticize them for what they don’t do?  Well, I know which way I’d like to answer this question – but, I also know which answer typically reflects my perspective.  While it is easy to miss seeing people doing good things we are pretty keen at finding their failings.  We are more apt to miss acknowledging action than we are to ignore inaction.  I am not sure why we have programmed ourselves to overlook the good deeds done by our friends and neighbors, but we need to make sure that we see and respond to them when they do good.  Conversely, it may be in their (and our) best interest to be slow to condemn their inactivity.  Who knows, maybe they have a good reason for not being involved in something – or maybe they are quietly involved in something that is more important than what we expect them to be doing.  Maybe, just maybe, they don’t know what they should be doing and are waiting on...

Wouldn’t it be great to go back in time?  After all, things are in such a disarray in today’s society that it is awful appealing to long for the good old days.  How far back would be good … twenty years – maybe fifty years?  Sure, it be great to go back fifty years because everything would be better back then, right?  Yes, let’s go back to 1968:          The year the USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans          The year, that in the middle of the Viet Nam War, the My Lai Massacre occurred          The year that a plane crashed in Texas killing all 85 people on board          The year that a soccer stampede in Argentina killed 74 people          The year that the Democratic Convention was interrupted by civil discord          The year that a mining disaster killed 78 people in West Virginia   ...

Last week I was involved in a couple of situations where I felt the need – as a leader – to step up and take some action.  Over the last few days I have reflected on my actions and I am still don’t know if I responded appropriately.  Now, during my own efforts of wrestling with my own personal response, I was reminded of a lesson of leadership.  While leaders will be called upon to make decisions in the heat of the moment, what makes them effective is not in reacting to an incident, rather in responding to the people involved in the incident.  Once the emotional matter is put to rest are we willing to regroup and move forward?  When control has been regained are we committed to practicing forgiveness, building (or repairing) bridges, providing training and providing encouragement?  Often, the toughest job is not dealing with the conflict, it is pulling the pieces together in an effort to move onward and upward. When the Apostle Paul gave some inspired pa...

Last week I saw words written and heard words spoken in public that are an embarrassment to our society.  Now before you think of me as partisan, please hear me out because I am about to paint with a broad bush.  First of all, there was an accusation that a “naughty” word was used in a meeting involving some of our elite politicians.  If it is true and that word was used, shame on them.  Folks, I have heard a lot of bad language in my jobs so it wasn’t my innocent ears that were violated – rather, it was that my consciousness for brotherhood and propriety was shocked.  Sure, I have heard similar language, but it was in bars at 2:00 a.m., not coming from a meeting attended by people who are supposed to be figuring out how to elevate the quality of life for “all men who are created equal”.  Yes, I have heard that phrase used before, but it has no place in a public meeting discussing the living conditions of fellow human beings.  Now, having said that, i...

Martin Luther King was a very charismatic and quotable speaker.  Some of the most memorable quotes from the second half of the 20 th Century came from the man who lead his followers to “dream dreams” and “scale mountain tops”.  We don’t have the time or space to record all of Dr. King’s memorable quips, but, the other day I came across two that struck a chord with me.  On one occasion King challenged, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”.  As I thought about this in light of modern times I was reminded that our effort to bring value to all lives will have peaks and valleys.  Both personally and socially, there will be eras marked by great strides and then there will be periods of struggle.  Yet, no matter where we find ourselves we must strive to do and be better.  No, we aren’t where we could be (and we may not be where we should be), but we cannot...

Where do we place our trust?  Since we live in a free and open society we get the chance to back whoever we believe will give us the best deal.  We can go to work for someone who claims to be able to make us wealthy.  We can vote for the candidate who promises to defend what we believe to be important.  Some of us might even be so distrustful as to think that “I” am the only one I can trust because I know me best or because everyone else has let me down.  No matter who we choose, we cast our lot with someone we think can make our lives better.  The problem with all of these choices is that, at one point or another, everyone (including ourselves) will stumble.  No human is perfect, no man is infallible, all will fail.  While that is the bad news, there is good news.  You see, we do have access to Someone who is all-knowing and all-powerful.  When the Psalmist reflected on God he wrote, “Praise the Lord!   Praise the  Lor...