1.) Discovering your Personal Legend
2.) The lesson would be a group discussion that would hopefully cause everyone to start thinking about their Personal Legend: whether they have discovered it or not, pursued it or ignored it. The discussion would ask questions like: "After reading this book, how many people feel as though they know what their Personal Legend is?" "How many people feel as though they know what it is but have been too afraid to pursue it for one reason or another?" "Out of the characters in the book searching for their Personal Legend, which can you most relate to?"
3.) This purpose of this exercise is to get people to start thinking about their lives and their purpose in life. As college students, the vast majority of us are searching for our Personal Legend if we haven’t already found it and this exercise will be beneficial to get us thinking about all the “omens” in our lives that we’ve been ignoring. I truly believe that God created everyone differently for a reason and that each of us has a job that only we can do.
4.) I believe that everyone can relate to one of three characters in the book: Santiago, the boy on his quest to fulfill his Personal Legend who goes; the crystal merchant, the man who knew what his Personal Legend was but was so paralyzed by his fear of change that he never pursued it; or the Englishmen, searching to discover his Personal Legend by studying other people. Everyone has their Melchizedek, caravan leader, and alchemist- these are the people that God places at different points in our lives to keep us heading down our path. They don’t give us the answers we are looking for but they cause us to discover the answers for ourselves. Their truths are brought to our minds continually either through circumstances or in the words of others. While we are on our Personal Legend, we will run into other people on the same quest that can very easily discourage us from persevering. When Santiago met the crystal merchant, he was at a very low point and had resolved to give up and go home. During his time with the crystal merchant, Santiago came to realize that this man hadn’t pursued his Personal Legend out of fear and it ultimately became the fire underneath Santiago to help him continue his quest and not settle like the merchant. The same way we can be hindered in our quest by others, we can try to walk out other people’s quests the way Englishman did without fully pursuing our own. He had to get past reading about things to experience things for himself. Every circumstance we find ourselves in is a learning one: from a shepherd, to a crystal merchant, to an oasis counselor. If we take the time to pay attention to what happens around us- the omens- we can be part of some amazing things. Ultimately I feel as though the personification of the heart, wind, sun, etc. represent our personal battle with ourselves and with God. The answers we need in life come from our relationship with God even though we have people who help us along the way to discover it. We need to look inside ourselves: listen to our conscious and the truths we have learned from our relationship with the Lord in order to fulfill our Personal Legend.
Monday, April 25, 2011
"The Forgotten Bomb" - Busboys & Poets Immersion
“The Forgotten Bomb” is a documentary about the atomic bomb that the US dropped on Japan, July 16, 1945, during World War II. The video showed people from both the United States and Japan and their responses to the event. The response was the same for many of the Americans interviewed in the film: dropping the bomb won us the war. However, consequently by dropping the nuclear bomb on Japan, the United States catapulted the world into the atomic age.
I really enjoyed this video because it shed a lot of light on not only the atomic bomb, but the events that surrounded the situation and the horrible repercussions of it. The consequences of negligent leadership were truly emphasized in this video. It is amazing how selfish we can be as human beings and sad to say, especially Americans! The video expounded on how the atomic bomb wasn’t as necessary to use as many people think. In fact, the world had a chance to get rid of the atomic bomb but President Truman ruined those chances. Our leaders didn’t know and, even worse, didn’t care to know what atomic bombs could do. It reminded me of what we talked about in class this past week about the responsibility for our leaders to know the meaning behind the symbols that they use and I think that this is an example of it. What the United States told the world by dropping the atomic bomb is that we will stop it nothing to win and appear the best. It doesn’t matter who we have to step on, how many innocent lives we will destroy- we WILL get our way at any cost of others. And what is even worse in my opinion, is that afterwards we will cover up how gruesome our behavior was so that the Americans will continue to be ignorant of what our country is capable of. The video talks about how many people are currently fighting to keep the effects of radiation a secret. The museums in the United States don’t show how intense the bombing was in Japan compared to Japanese museums which are incredibly graphic about what happened and how people were impacted. The exposure to the radiation caused survivors to be unrecognizable to others. Stories were told about how maggots were growing in and eating the flesh of people, how insides were completely destroyed and how people were forced to watch neighbors, friends, and loved ones die excruciating deaths without being able to help them.
I wonder how many of our leaders would have thought twice about dropping the bomb on Japan if they were forced to watch the video of the damage they would create in these lives. So often I feel as though we see things very generally: we are at war with this country. Do we ever stop to think that this “country” that we personify is made up of hundreds of thousands to millions of people just like us? The choice to drop a nuclear weapon on a country is choosing to destroy millions of human lives. I know that there are instances where people are going to be hurt, especially in a war. It is the responsibility of the country’s leaders to keep them safe, but at what point does it turn from self-defense to murder? Then at what point does it turn from a leadership issue to everyone’s issue? As we talked in class this week about responsibility, we also mentioned that it is our responsibility as the people to be educated on the issues so that we can correctly support or not support what our leaders’ decisions. Sometimes there is very little that the people can do to sway the opinions of leaders once in office, but during elections we have all the power. We need to take the time to learn about our leaders so we can place the right person in office: the person who stands for the same things that we do and who we know will accurately represent us in this world. But for now, we can still make a stand. The effects of radiation are a serious matter. Many workers right here in the United States have died due to the exposure of radiation. The video gave numerous contacts that are fighting against these issues that people can support. Once we are exposed to a situation, we have a responsibility to speak out against it if we don’t agree with it. The purpose of the documentary was to expose nuclear weapons for the terror that they are so that people can help put an end to their use. It’s risky exposing the government and our leaders the way that this video did, but you have to take risks if you want change. It always amazes me the common theme throughout all the key players in any significant change and that is their ability to stick their necks out for what they believe. The response for the video at Busboys & Poets alone was phenomenal and I can only assume that it is continuing to grow as the video is spread throughout the nation and it is all because one man’s conviction.
I really enjoyed this video because it shed a lot of light on not only the atomic bomb, but the events that surrounded the situation and the horrible repercussions of it. The consequences of negligent leadership were truly emphasized in this video. It is amazing how selfish we can be as human beings and sad to say, especially Americans! The video expounded on how the atomic bomb wasn’t as necessary to use as many people think. In fact, the world had a chance to get rid of the atomic bomb but President Truman ruined those chances. Our leaders didn’t know and, even worse, didn’t care to know what atomic bombs could do. It reminded me of what we talked about in class this past week about the responsibility for our leaders to know the meaning behind the symbols that they use and I think that this is an example of it. What the United States told the world by dropping the atomic bomb is that we will stop it nothing to win and appear the best. It doesn’t matter who we have to step on, how many innocent lives we will destroy- we WILL get our way at any cost of others. And what is even worse in my opinion, is that afterwards we will cover up how gruesome our behavior was so that the Americans will continue to be ignorant of what our country is capable of. The video talks about how many people are currently fighting to keep the effects of radiation a secret. The museums in the United States don’t show how intense the bombing was in Japan compared to Japanese museums which are incredibly graphic about what happened and how people were impacted. The exposure to the radiation caused survivors to be unrecognizable to others. Stories were told about how maggots were growing in and eating the flesh of people, how insides were completely destroyed and how people were forced to watch neighbors, friends, and loved ones die excruciating deaths without being able to help them.
I wonder how many of our leaders would have thought twice about dropping the bomb on Japan if they were forced to watch the video of the damage they would create in these lives. So often I feel as though we see things very generally: we are at war with this country. Do we ever stop to think that this “country” that we personify is made up of hundreds of thousands to millions of people just like us? The choice to drop a nuclear weapon on a country is choosing to destroy millions of human lives. I know that there are instances where people are going to be hurt, especially in a war. It is the responsibility of the country’s leaders to keep them safe, but at what point does it turn from self-defense to murder? Then at what point does it turn from a leadership issue to everyone’s issue? As we talked in class this week about responsibility, we also mentioned that it is our responsibility as the people to be educated on the issues so that we can correctly support or not support what our leaders’ decisions. Sometimes there is very little that the people can do to sway the opinions of leaders once in office, but during elections we have all the power. We need to take the time to learn about our leaders so we can place the right person in office: the person who stands for the same things that we do and who we know will accurately represent us in this world. But for now, we can still make a stand. The effects of radiation are a serious matter. Many workers right here in the United States have died due to the exposure of radiation. The video gave numerous contacts that are fighting against these issues that people can support. Once we are exposed to a situation, we have a responsibility to speak out against it if we don’t agree with it. The purpose of the documentary was to expose nuclear weapons for the terror that they are so that people can help put an end to their use. It’s risky exposing the government and our leaders the way that this video did, but you have to take risks if you want change. It always amazes me the common theme throughout all the key players in any significant change and that is their ability to stick their necks out for what they believe. The response for the video at Busboys & Poets alone was phenomenal and I can only assume that it is continuing to grow as the video is spread throughout the nation and it is all because one man’s conviction.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
"Pushing the Elephant" - Busboys & Poets Immersion
“Pushing the Elephant” is a documentary about Rose Mapendo: a Congolese Tutsis who was in a refugee camp during the 1996 war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and her story of forgiveness. Rose was married, the mother of eight children, and pregnant with twins when she entered into the refugee camp. One of her daughters, Nangbire, was forced to live with her grandparents when Rose and the rest of the family moved because in their home city the women do everything and the grandfather wouldn’t take one of the many sons. Nangbire was separated from her family from the age of four: although this spared her from the refugee camp, this separation was the cause of many personal issues for Nangbire later in life.
While Rose was in the camp, her husband was killed and she began to curse God for what had happened to her family. At some point, Rose came to the realization that her bitterness was a choice and that it was only making things worse. She made the choice to forgive her enemies and not let the bitterness and anger continue to destroy her. When she gave birth to her twins in the camp, she decided to name them after the commanders who had killed her husband because it was the biggest demonstration of love that could be shown in her country.
After her husband died, her oldest son John became the “father” of the family. When the soldiers came to kill John, Rose begged them for mercy and asked if there was anything that she could do to spare her son’s life. The soldier told her that if she gave him her oldest daughter, Aimee, that he would spare John’s life. Rose gathered John and Aimee together and told them both about the situation. Aimee told her mother that she would sacrifice herself to save her brother’s life and was ultimately raped and became pregnant in order to do so. The situation was later turned for good as it was the same soldier that got Aimee pregnant who helped deliver the Mapendo family from the refugee camp.
Rose, who now lives in the US, travels around the world telling her story of forgiveness. She shares about the struggles her family faced and encourages 1) the people who have/are facing similar circumstances to not be bitter, but love their enemies and 2) the people who have the ability to make a change in these countries to do so. Her focus is on unity, reconciliation, and peace- not on retaliation. Rose explains how change is like pushing an elephant: one person can’t move an elephant alone, but many people can move it together and it is the same for change. As people band together they have the ability to make a drastic change for the better.
I was really inspired by Rose’s story as I always am with people who overcome such major life circumstances. The most impressive and encouraging part of Rose’s story for me was her strong emphasis on forgiveness. I can’t even imagine having to face what she did and then having the ability to love and forgive her enemies. It is a principle that is stated all over the Bible: “love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you” and Rose was the perfect example of practically applying that. I believe that there are many ways to make a change in this world and anger and retaliation is very often the most popular method. Rarely do you see people killing others with kindness and pursuing change in a way where they aren’t stepping over others to get it. I am the biggest proponent of leading by example and that is what Rose did by forgiving her enemies and then using her experience to bring awareness to the world. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for her after she moved to the US either. When Rose was finally reunited with her daughter Nangbire, she had to balance work and her family since Nangbire especially needed a lot of attention. In her story they showed the reality of how in life we have to choose between important things. What Rose did was rather than pick one over the other she brought Nangbire with her on some of her speeches and presentations. She not only gave her daughter the attention that she needed, she was also able to show her daughter how important it is for them to be strong role models for the world. Their story is so important and the fact that her mom takes the time to share it with people has a lasting impact on many lives. There were times where Rose’s son would also try to discourage her from going places to share out of fear for her safety but she explained that very truth to him about their responsibility to speak out against the war. The courage that Rose depicts is astounding because she is living what she is preaching. She is showing even her children how necessary it is to truly fight for change. The documentary shows the family constantly praying for the war to end in the Congo and Rose is taking it a step further and doing all that she knows to do. She knows that the future is in the hands of the Lord, but she also realizes her responsibility to be an example in word and deed. As she continues to speak out at seminars and travel the world telling her story of forgiveness and change, Rose is able to continuously gather more people to help push the elephant of change for the Congo.
While Rose was in the camp, her husband was killed and she began to curse God for what had happened to her family. At some point, Rose came to the realization that her bitterness was a choice and that it was only making things worse. She made the choice to forgive her enemies and not let the bitterness and anger continue to destroy her. When she gave birth to her twins in the camp, she decided to name them after the commanders who had killed her husband because it was the biggest demonstration of love that could be shown in her country.
After her husband died, her oldest son John became the “father” of the family. When the soldiers came to kill John, Rose begged them for mercy and asked if there was anything that she could do to spare her son’s life. The soldier told her that if she gave him her oldest daughter, Aimee, that he would spare John’s life. Rose gathered John and Aimee together and told them both about the situation. Aimee told her mother that she would sacrifice herself to save her brother’s life and was ultimately raped and became pregnant in order to do so. The situation was later turned for good as it was the same soldier that got Aimee pregnant who helped deliver the Mapendo family from the refugee camp.
Rose, who now lives in the US, travels around the world telling her story of forgiveness. She shares about the struggles her family faced and encourages 1) the people who have/are facing similar circumstances to not be bitter, but love their enemies and 2) the people who have the ability to make a change in these countries to do so. Her focus is on unity, reconciliation, and peace- not on retaliation. Rose explains how change is like pushing an elephant: one person can’t move an elephant alone, but many people can move it together and it is the same for change. As people band together they have the ability to make a drastic change for the better.
I was really inspired by Rose’s story as I always am with people who overcome such major life circumstances. The most impressive and encouraging part of Rose’s story for me was her strong emphasis on forgiveness. I can’t even imagine having to face what she did and then having the ability to love and forgive her enemies. It is a principle that is stated all over the Bible: “love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you” and Rose was the perfect example of practically applying that. I believe that there are many ways to make a change in this world and anger and retaliation is very often the most popular method. Rarely do you see people killing others with kindness and pursuing change in a way where they aren’t stepping over others to get it. I am the biggest proponent of leading by example and that is what Rose did by forgiving her enemies and then using her experience to bring awareness to the world. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for her after she moved to the US either. When Rose was finally reunited with her daughter Nangbire, she had to balance work and her family since Nangbire especially needed a lot of attention. In her story they showed the reality of how in life we have to choose between important things. What Rose did was rather than pick one over the other she brought Nangbire with her on some of her speeches and presentations. She not only gave her daughter the attention that she needed, she was also able to show her daughter how important it is for them to be strong role models for the world. Their story is so important and the fact that her mom takes the time to share it with people has a lasting impact on many lives. There were times where Rose’s son would also try to discourage her from going places to share out of fear for her safety but she explained that very truth to him about their responsibility to speak out against the war. The courage that Rose depicts is astounding because she is living what she is preaching. She is showing even her children how necessary it is to truly fight for change. The documentary shows the family constantly praying for the war to end in the Congo and Rose is taking it a step further and doing all that she knows to do. She knows that the future is in the hands of the Lord, but she also realizes her responsibility to be an example in word and deed. As she continues to speak out at seminars and travel the world telling her story of forgiveness and change, Rose is able to continuously gather more people to help push the elephant of change for the Congo.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Culture Night: Hellenic Society & Italian Club
When I went to this event, I was really excited to learn about Greece and Italy. All that I really know about them is that they have good food and gorgeous scenery, but I was really looking forward to learning more about their culture. I even brought a friend with me to the event because he is really into different cultures and languages. I knew that we would both have a great time. Boy was I wrong...
The description of the event said that we would be learning about both cultures and that we would be exposed to their music, dance, food, and other entertainment. When we went into Dewberry Hall, the lights were turned down very low. The music was blasting, along with the DJ, as if we were in a club. I figured that maybe it was just the "introduction" as everyone ate before the activities started. There was a slide-show behind the DJ that had pictures of Greece and Italy and there were also a few articles of clothing spread out on a table. They had pastas, Greek salad, and a few other items that were specifically from those countries. My friend and I each made ourselves plates and sat down at the tables that were spread out. The food was really good and we both went back for more. We sat and talked for a while while we waited for things to start. After about an hour with nothing happening,my friend had to leave for class. I stayed a while longer waiting for something to happen until I finally went up and asked the instructors if anything else was going to be happening besides the music blasting and people sitting around doing nothing. They told me that a few people were going to be performing some music but for the most part it was going to just be that the entire night. I sat back down and continued to wait until the DJ made an announcement talking about how they were going to be turning up and the music and encouraging everyone to come out on the dance floor and dance the night away. I was pretty amazed at hearing that. I had noticed that the event was scheduled for 6 pm - 12 am and of course I thought that that was a pretty long time but never did I think that it was simply a dance party. After the announcement I left because I had another meeting to attend but I planned to come back. When I came back an hour and a half later, the music was blasting even louder, the lights were off but there were colored spot lights on the dance floor, and people were dancing. I could tell from everything that was going on that this was simply a dance party so I left.
I have to say that I was really disappointed with this because I feel as though this club really missed out on a great opportunity to expose their culture to their attendants. Maybe I was the only oblivious one who came expecting to learn something about Greece and Italy, but there were older adults at the event as well who I'd assume were expecting a different experience. I walked away with nothing except some pasta in my stomach. Although at first I was just really upset about the experience, I am happy that this was the even I attended. All semester long I've had great experiences learning about people who did things right and made the most of opportunities that they had, but this time I was able to see a time where the leaders DIDN'T use their time to the fullest. How often do you have a big audience of people in front of you coming to learn about culture- YOUR culture- something that you supposedly take a lot of pride in? All I could think about was how if that were the Chilean women, Anita Hill, Tupac, Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou or any of the other people I've learned about this semester and they had the chance to talk to people about their culture, there is no way that they would just throw a dance party and not take full advantage of educating people on their culture. It really showed me the necessity of everything I've been hearing from my professor and our guest speakers as they've been emphasizing the need to truly DO something. Make a stand- make a change- don't just waste the time and opportunities that I'm given. As much as I learn from the good events, I take a lot more away from the ones that fall short because it really stirs me to make sure that I never squander my chances because you never know when it's the only chance you will have!
The description of the event said that we would be learning about both cultures and that we would be exposed to their music, dance, food, and other entertainment. When we went into Dewberry Hall, the lights were turned down very low. The music was blasting, along with the DJ, as if we were in a club. I figured that maybe it was just the "introduction" as everyone ate before the activities started. There was a slide-show behind the DJ that had pictures of Greece and Italy and there were also a few articles of clothing spread out on a table. They had pastas, Greek salad, and a few other items that were specifically from those countries. My friend and I each made ourselves plates and sat down at the tables that were spread out. The food was really good and we both went back for more. We sat and talked for a while while we waited for things to start. After about an hour with nothing happening,my friend had to leave for class. I stayed a while longer waiting for something to happen until I finally went up and asked the instructors if anything else was going to be happening besides the music blasting and people sitting around doing nothing. They told me that a few people were going to be performing some music but for the most part it was going to just be that the entire night. I sat back down and continued to wait until the DJ made an announcement talking about how they were going to be turning up and the music and encouraging everyone to come out on the dance floor and dance the night away. I was pretty amazed at hearing that. I had noticed that the event was scheduled for 6 pm - 12 am and of course I thought that that was a pretty long time but never did I think that it was simply a dance party. After the announcement I left because I had another meeting to attend but I planned to come back. When I came back an hour and a half later, the music was blasting even louder, the lights were off but there were colored spot lights on the dance floor, and people were dancing. I could tell from everything that was going on that this was simply a dance party so I left.
I have to say that I was really disappointed with this because I feel as though this club really missed out on a great opportunity to expose their culture to their attendants. Maybe I was the only oblivious one who came expecting to learn something about Greece and Italy, but there were older adults at the event as well who I'd assume were expecting a different experience. I walked away with nothing except some pasta in my stomach. Although at first I was just really upset about the experience, I am happy that this was the even I attended. All semester long I've had great experiences learning about people who did things right and made the most of opportunities that they had, but this time I was able to see a time where the leaders DIDN'T use their time to the fullest. How often do you have a big audience of people in front of you coming to learn about culture- YOUR culture- something that you supposedly take a lot of pride in? All I could think about was how if that were the Chilean women, Anita Hill, Tupac, Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou or any of the other people I've learned about this semester and they had the chance to talk to people about their culture, there is no way that they would just throw a dance party and not take full advantage of educating people on their culture. It really showed me the necessity of everything I've been hearing from my professor and our guest speakers as they've been emphasizing the need to truly DO something. Make a stand- make a change- don't just waste the time and opportunities that I'm given. As much as I learn from the good events, I take a lot more away from the ones that fall short because it really stirs me to make sure that I never squander my chances because you never know when it's the only chance you will have!
Threads of Hope
I didn't know too much about what happened in Chile until I attended this event. This movie, "Threads of Hope", was part of the Global Justice film series and it was about the women of Santiago, Chile who make arpilleras (patchwork fabrics depicting the events) in the hopes of finding their lost loved ones: sons, husbands, and brothers. The military had taken these men prisoners during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990) but never admitted that they had taken them. The arperillas were made and sold with letters inside to expose the world to the horror that was raging in Chile. As people in other countries began seeing the arperillas and everything that was going on during this time period, they were able to help stop the dictatorship and support the change. Now, years later, as the government still refuses to admit their major role in this horrible event, the women desire closure and long to at least be able to bury the bodies of their loved ones properly.
Anytime I watch or hear about events where people are being tortured and oppressed (physically and emotionally) it makes my heart sink as I imagine it does for most people. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that those people felt during this time. Both sides, male and female, were horrible but my heart goes out so much for the women because the large part of the pain is the mystery. The uncertainty that they had to battle every day- "where are they?", "how badly have they been beaten?","are they alive?", "are they dead?" But the amazing part was how these women turned all of their pain and anger into determination. They chose to not just sit there and let the government get away with this destruction of human rights. They weren't able to physically fight the military, but they did what they could: they made arperillas! And their little pieces of cloth played a major role in putting an end to the dictatorship in their country. It is so inspirational because it shows that you don't need to have the biggest or best to make a difference. You can make a difference with whatever seemingly small or unimportant gifts that you have. The main ingredient is determination- the willingness to sacrifice and give your life for the cause you are supporting. These women would protest publicly whenever they were able despite their old age. They undoubtedly shame many of us younger people who don't even have the heart to stand up for what we believe when there are no consequences. These women risked their lives and were physically attacked for their cause, yet they prevailed. They never quit, they didn't back down- they did what they needed to do to make change happen.
God forbid that I ever have to face anything similar to what they did, but it isn't impossible! Would I have the conviction to put everything, even my life, on the line for my cause? I was cringing as I watched all that they had to endure and at that moment I was really doubting if I had it in me. It's why I'm so thankful for God who promises that He won't put us through anything that we can't endure. Therefore if I ever have to face something to that magnitude I can stand assure that I am able to stand with God on my side and that He will give me the strength to prevail. I know that those women probably NEVER would have guessed that they would be able to do what they did, but the hardships of this life make us stronger and build character in us that we never would have got without them.
Anytime I watch or hear about events where people are being tortured and oppressed (physically and emotionally) it makes my heart sink as I imagine it does for most people. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that those people felt during this time. Both sides, male and female, were horrible but my heart goes out so much for the women because the large part of the pain is the mystery. The uncertainty that they had to battle every day- "where are they?", "how badly have they been beaten?","are they alive?", "are they dead?" But the amazing part was how these women turned all of their pain and anger into determination. They chose to not just sit there and let the government get away with this destruction of human rights. They weren't able to physically fight the military, but they did what they could: they made arperillas! And their little pieces of cloth played a major role in putting an end to the dictatorship in their country. It is so inspirational because it shows that you don't need to have the biggest or best to make a difference. You can make a difference with whatever seemingly small or unimportant gifts that you have. The main ingredient is determination- the willingness to sacrifice and give your life for the cause you are supporting. These women would protest publicly whenever they were able despite their old age. They undoubtedly shame many of us younger people who don't even have the heart to stand up for what we believe when there are no consequences. These women risked their lives and were physically attacked for their cause, yet they prevailed. They never quit, they didn't back down- they did what they needed to do to make change happen.
God forbid that I ever have to face anything similar to what they did, but it isn't impossible! Would I have the conviction to put everything, even my life, on the line for my cause? I was cringing as I watched all that they had to endure and at that moment I was really doubting if I had it in me. It's why I'm so thankful for God who promises that He won't put us through anything that we can't endure. Therefore if I ever have to face something to that magnitude I can stand assure that I am able to stand with God on my side and that He will give me the strength to prevail. I know that those women probably NEVER would have guessed that they would be able to do what they did, but the hardships of this life make us stronger and build character in us that we never would have got without them.
Sojourner Truth Lecture: Anita Hill
I really enjoyed going to Anita Hill's lecture, "Re-imagining Equality: Gender, Race and Finding Home in America". Sadly, I wasn't too aware of who Anita Hill was going into the presentation. I may have heard about her before, but I honestly didn't remember.
The issue of sexual harassment is such a major one, especially in the workplace. For the longest time, people weren't speaking up about for a number of reasons I'm sure: too afraid, too ashamed, knowledge that nothing would happen if they did so why even bother. But Anita Hill made a stand that many other people, especially women, didn't make at that time: she spoke out. For years women had simply suffered in silence, but because of her boldness and willingness to risk everything for the basic human rights of everyone in the workplace, now women have a voice to speak out. What Anita really emphasized was the need to rejoice in improvement. Of course we shouldn't settle for just improvement when the issue is still at hand, but too often we forget to celebrate the victorious battles even though the war is raging. It is going to take years to overcome all the years of oppression, harassment, etc. in the workplace, much less the nation or world; but the encouragement is really needed for people to continue fighting.
Anita's speech was more of a rally in my opinion. She was encouraging all of us to rally together for this cause and begin to do our part to make change happen. "We need people who are fearless and better legislators" - said Anita. "We need to not be able to have people file a claim when they are sexually harassed, but assure them that they won't need to file a claim!" That second quote really hit me and inside I was like "YOU'RE RIGHT!!!" The point isn't to make sure that people get justice when they are harassed or attacked (although that is definitely the first step), the point is to make sure that harassment is ended in the workplace altogether. As she was closing Anita said "If you're really committed to a change, it has to be a lifetime one!" and I really liked that statement because so often we get rallied and excited for a cause and we start pursuing for a while and then slowly it dies off and we go right back to normal. The commitment Anita made was for life: a lifetime devotion to fighting sexual harassment in the workplace. She is fighting through her speeches and campaigns and other similar means. Not all of us will have the opportunity to reach out in that way, but we can make a lifetime commitment to fight for the important issues in our lives through our actions such as: supporting (or not supporting) specific organizations, people, etc. It's always encouraging to see people like me, African-American women, making a difference in the world simply through their boldness. It really encourages me to do the same!
The issue of sexual harassment is such a major one, especially in the workplace. For the longest time, people weren't speaking up about for a number of reasons I'm sure: too afraid, too ashamed, knowledge that nothing would happen if they did so why even bother. But Anita Hill made a stand that many other people, especially women, didn't make at that time: she spoke out. For years women had simply suffered in silence, but because of her boldness and willingness to risk everything for the basic human rights of everyone in the workplace, now women have a voice to speak out. What Anita really emphasized was the need to rejoice in improvement. Of course we shouldn't settle for just improvement when the issue is still at hand, but too often we forget to celebrate the victorious battles even though the war is raging. It is going to take years to overcome all the years of oppression, harassment, etc. in the workplace, much less the nation or world; but the encouragement is really needed for people to continue fighting.
Anita's speech was more of a rally in my opinion. She was encouraging all of us to rally together for this cause and begin to do our part to make change happen. "We need people who are fearless and better legislators" - said Anita. "We need to not be able to have people file a claim when they are sexually harassed, but assure them that they won't need to file a claim!" That second quote really hit me and inside I was like "YOU'RE RIGHT!!!" The point isn't to make sure that people get justice when they are harassed or attacked (although that is definitely the first step), the point is to make sure that harassment is ended in the workplace altogether. As she was closing Anita said "If you're really committed to a change, it has to be a lifetime one!" and I really liked that statement because so often we get rallied and excited for a cause and we start pursuing for a while and then slowly it dies off and we go right back to normal. The commitment Anita made was for life: a lifetime devotion to fighting sexual harassment in the workplace. She is fighting through her speeches and campaigns and other similar means. Not all of us will have the opportunity to reach out in that way, but we can make a lifetime commitment to fight for the important issues in our lives through our actions such as: supporting (or not supporting) specific organizations, people, etc. It's always encouraging to see people like me, African-American women, making a difference in the world simply through their boldness. It really encourages me to do the same!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Master Class- Maya Angelou
Proverbs 18:16 says that a man's gifts make room for him and that is exactly what comes to mind as I think about Maya Angelou. Here is a woman who had her share of major life battles, but rather than allow them to defeat her she was able to overcome with the help of her family and mentors. The law of attraction is a choice to not let the issues of life hinder you from becoming the person you were created to be. No one has the ability to control what is going to happen in life and if people think they do then they are crazy. But what everyone does have control over is how they are going to respond to the circumstances that come their way. Success didn't come to Maya because she "wished" it would, the success that she has had comes from her determination to look for the "rainbow in the clouds". She doesn't focus on the negatives of life, instead she looks for the rainbows which are the opportunities to grow despite the opposition.
Everyone has gifts and talents and strong potential, but not everyone uses them to their fullest. People like Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein, and countless others didn't have some great power that is unattainable for the rest of us. Yes- many of these people had gifts of writing, communication, intelligence, and other things that not everyone possess, but their biggest strength was their drive and determination. They made the choice to take risks, to get up when they were knocked down, to make sacrifices that honestly the majority of us are not willing to make. I really liked one of the statements that Maya made: "You can only become great at the thing that you are willing to sacrifice for." It is a truth that you see all around us. The great athletes, writers, speakers, etc. are all the people that gave up relationships, specific foods, a social life, and other luxuries to attain to achieve their high goals. Maya could have made the choice to remain a mute for the rest of her life and succumb to her fears, but instead she choice to become the person she was meant to be.
When I think about "leading with a spirit of love" in reference to Maya Angelou, I immediately think about her mother and grandmother and the large impact that both played on her life by their love. Once she returned to her grandmother after becoming a mute, her grandmother led her by love through her encouragement. She wasn't forcing her to start speaking again, although that was something she wanted and knew would eventually happen. What her grandmother did was continually remind Maya of the gifts that God had given her that would make her important in the world. The love of her grandmother and her mentor that introduced her to poetry was what ultimately set her free from her bond to silence. "Love liberates" was the phrase Maya repeated over and over as she talked about her relationship with her mom later in her life. The love her mom showed to her whenever she fell or was beat down by the world was what gave her the power to go back out and try again. The confidence that her loved ones showed Maya was what led her to become the great poet, author, and woman that she is. They never told her what to do, they simply encouraged her to do what she had been raised to do: "do right". Not only that, but Maya took that same spirit of love and turned it towards everyone she came in contact with. The wisdom she has about the power of words and how they can destroy or uplift people is rare in the world. What is even more impressive about Maya is that not only does she have that wisdom for herself, she holds the rest of the people she associates with to the same standard. She doesn't allow slander in her house and around her and she reproves in love. She is gentle and that's how she leads.
Everyone has gifts and talents and strong potential, but not everyone uses them to their fullest. People like Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein, and countless others didn't have some great power that is unattainable for the rest of us. Yes- many of these people had gifts of writing, communication, intelligence, and other things that not everyone possess, but their biggest strength was their drive and determination. They made the choice to take risks, to get up when they were knocked down, to make sacrifices that honestly the majority of us are not willing to make. I really liked one of the statements that Maya made: "You can only become great at the thing that you are willing to sacrifice for." It is a truth that you see all around us. The great athletes, writers, speakers, etc. are all the people that gave up relationships, specific foods, a social life, and other luxuries to attain to achieve their high goals. Maya could have made the choice to remain a mute for the rest of her life and succumb to her fears, but instead she choice to become the person she was meant to be.
When I think about "leading with a spirit of love" in reference to Maya Angelou, I immediately think about her mother and grandmother and the large impact that both played on her life by their love. Once she returned to her grandmother after becoming a mute, her grandmother led her by love through her encouragement. She wasn't forcing her to start speaking again, although that was something she wanted and knew would eventually happen. What her grandmother did was continually remind Maya of the gifts that God had given her that would make her important in the world. The love of her grandmother and her mentor that introduced her to poetry was what ultimately set her free from her bond to silence. "Love liberates" was the phrase Maya repeated over and over as she talked about her relationship with her mom later in her life. The love her mom showed to her whenever she fell or was beat down by the world was what gave her the power to go back out and try again. The confidence that her loved ones showed Maya was what led her to become the great poet, author, and woman that she is. They never told her what to do, they simply encouraged her to do what she had been raised to do: "do right". Not only that, but Maya took that same spirit of love and turned it towards everyone she came in contact with. The wisdom she has about the power of words and how they can destroy or uplift people is rare in the world. What is even more impressive about Maya is that not only does she have that wisdom for herself, she holds the rest of the people she associates with to the same standard. She doesn't allow slander in her house and around her and she reproves in love. She is gentle and that's how she leads.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"What the Bleep Do We Know", "Hidden Messages in the Water", & "The Secret"
These videos were interesting to me for a number of reasons. From the title alone, I wasn't exactly sure what the videos were going to be about but I've come to realize that I can't really be prepared for anything in this class. The first video had my mind reeling from the start simply from trying to comprehend everything that was being said. I'm not sure if it was my mind having trouble following or what, but it seemed as though things were jumping around a lot. The first concept I was grasping was "why are we here?" and for me that it is probably the easiest question to answer: we are here because God created us, along with the rest of the world, to praise and give Him glory. Whenever I hear that question I have mixed feelings because on one hand I know what the truth and the answer to the question is so I don't relate to the people who are continually searching for the answer, but on the other hand I'm not surprised that people spend their entire lives searching for the answer to that question. It is the question that you ponder in the early morning as you are watching the sunrise or any other indescribably breath-taking view. It's the question that prevents you from going to sleep some nights as you lay there wrestling with the reality that there is a power- a supernatural being- that longs for you to have a relationship with Him. The fact is that people don't like the truth because it requires a surrendering of their lives in ways that they aren't willing to surrender. As a result, many people search and search for an even "deeper" meaning to life and rather than embracing the truth they feel better about saying "there is no way to know for sure" or "everyone makes their own answer". Many people (and I believe that I would fall into this category if I wasn't a Christian) are content in their ignorance and don't like to go down the intellectual paths that these videos take you down. When you find an answer you are then confronted with a responsibility to act on your findings. You are held accountable for what you know, therefore ignorance is very often bliss! We don't want to think about eternity or the true meaning of life because that will take away from me completely indulging myself right now. Everyone will, if they haven't already, heard the answer to that great question of "why are we here?" but the reality is that the vast majority CHOOSE to reject the answer to it. The fact is that there are many, many, MANY different philosophies and concepts and things that honestly go way over my head about life and this world and sadly they are just rabbit holes that continually send people farther and farther away from the Creator of the Universe and their souls. When I see videos like these I don't get angry or upset- I definitely don't entertain the majority of what they are saying because I already know the truth- but it opens my eyes to just how many different world views are out there as a wisely crafted diversion from the truth.
One aspect that I think they nailed on the head was when they were talking about the complexity of the mind and body. The Bible speaks about how we as humans are fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God. I completely agree with the narrators when they spoke about how there are so many things of this world that we couldn't even begin to comprehend. The truth is that our finite minds can't fully grasp the infinite wonder of God's creation. He gives us glimpses and that alone is enough to blow our minds! Even as the "Hidden Messages in the Water" video depicted, it is almost frightening what our minds can do. How we can take things and completely change reality in our mind to dictate specific circumstances or view points that we have. One of the speakers mentioned how it is foolish to try to dive into the complexity of these things because the more we try, the farther into the rabbit hole we will fall and I believe that completely. Knowledge is a two-edged sword in my opinion. It is a great and powerful thing that gives us insight and illumination about things that we often times need a little explanation in order to act appropriately. But there is such thing as too much knowledge. I've seen it many times where people, especially young adults in college, have allowed knowledge and information change the way they think about life. They begin to over analyze things and basic truths ultimately get turned into major philosophical issues. I consider myself blessed that I've never had an insane hunger for knowledge because I see how it can destroy people if it isn't controlled. The Bible says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". As a Christian, our entire lives are to be lived by faith. We will never understand God and I believe that that's a main reason why people choose not to believe in Him. I don't have to see or touch God to know that He is real but that is the opposite of a lot of the sciences of today. Everything has to be proven and understandable in order to be real. Now don't get me wrong- God is MORE than able to prove His power and I believe that the world is going to be exposed to the power of God in ways that they haven't been to this point. We are seeing it now with the natural disasters and the issues in the Middle East and there is much more to come as He prepares to send Jesus back for the church of Christ. But faith is such a foreign concept to our generation and we are instructed to search and study and only do things that we completely understand and I have to say that I can't do that as a Christian.
The law of attraction was also interesting. Once again, I feel as though it is a concept that has been twisted in order to remove God from the picture and rather than admit that there is a sovereign God who orders every person's steps it states that the universe is making things happen based off our attitudes. This concept I'm going to probably pick apart the most because there are underlying truths mentioned in it, but I don't believe it the way it was stated in the video. I don't believe in coincidence or fate- I'm definitely guilty of using those words from time to time but I know that they aren't real. Nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission and everything happens for a reason. Now, I can't even pretend to start answering all the questions about why there is rape, abuse, molestation, natural disasters that kill thousands or any of the horrible things that are in the world. All I can say is what I do know and that is that God works all things together for good and that He is always in control of each and every situation. Even though God is always in control and nothing can thwart His will for each of our lives, we do have choices. We have the choice to react certain ways to circumstances or to view the world positively or negatively. I can say from personal experience that the majority of times when I see the world the way they describe in the video- negatively and focusing on bad things- is when I'm completely absorbed with myself. But once I stop focusing on myself and get my eyes on God and as a result on helping others, the things that seemed so huge and personal "suddenly" disappear. I don't believe that simply by strongly wanting something I can attract it to myself. I DO believe that God will answer us according to the things that are our treasures and therefore know how important it is to have the right treasures. But if I could get what I wanted simply by wanting it then my life would be extremely different right now. I believe that we have the ability to make changes for the better in our lives, but they don't come because we focus on them really hard and then "the universe" gives them to us. Many people are dedicated and driven and have succeed because of those personality traits. I think people confuse what people take for themselves with "blessings". "The universe" will do nothing for us: we have the option to either 1) put our faith in God and receive His blessings as a result of our obedience to Him, or 2) go out and get what we want using our personalities, character traits, and ambitions.
One aspect that I think they nailed on the head was when they were talking about the complexity of the mind and body. The Bible speaks about how we as humans are fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God. I completely agree with the narrators when they spoke about how there are so many things of this world that we couldn't even begin to comprehend. The truth is that our finite minds can't fully grasp the infinite wonder of God's creation. He gives us glimpses and that alone is enough to blow our minds! Even as the "Hidden Messages in the Water" video depicted, it is almost frightening what our minds can do. How we can take things and completely change reality in our mind to dictate specific circumstances or view points that we have. One of the speakers mentioned how it is foolish to try to dive into the complexity of these things because the more we try, the farther into the rabbit hole we will fall and I believe that completely. Knowledge is a two-edged sword in my opinion. It is a great and powerful thing that gives us insight and illumination about things that we often times need a little explanation in order to act appropriately. But there is such thing as too much knowledge. I've seen it many times where people, especially young adults in college, have allowed knowledge and information change the way they think about life. They begin to over analyze things and basic truths ultimately get turned into major philosophical issues. I consider myself blessed that I've never had an insane hunger for knowledge because I see how it can destroy people if it isn't controlled. The Bible says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". As a Christian, our entire lives are to be lived by faith. We will never understand God and I believe that that's a main reason why people choose not to believe in Him. I don't have to see or touch God to know that He is real but that is the opposite of a lot of the sciences of today. Everything has to be proven and understandable in order to be real. Now don't get me wrong- God is MORE than able to prove His power and I believe that the world is going to be exposed to the power of God in ways that they haven't been to this point. We are seeing it now with the natural disasters and the issues in the Middle East and there is much more to come as He prepares to send Jesus back for the church of Christ. But faith is such a foreign concept to our generation and we are instructed to search and study and only do things that we completely understand and I have to say that I can't do that as a Christian.
The law of attraction was also interesting. Once again, I feel as though it is a concept that has been twisted in order to remove God from the picture and rather than admit that there is a sovereign God who orders every person's steps it states that the universe is making things happen based off our attitudes. This concept I'm going to probably pick apart the most because there are underlying truths mentioned in it, but I don't believe it the way it was stated in the video. I don't believe in coincidence or fate- I'm definitely guilty of using those words from time to time but I know that they aren't real. Nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission and everything happens for a reason. Now, I can't even pretend to start answering all the questions about why there is rape, abuse, molestation, natural disasters that kill thousands or any of the horrible things that are in the world. All I can say is what I do know and that is that God works all things together for good and that He is always in control of each and every situation. Even though God is always in control and nothing can thwart His will for each of our lives, we do have choices. We have the choice to react certain ways to circumstances or to view the world positively or negatively. I can say from personal experience that the majority of times when I see the world the way they describe in the video- negatively and focusing on bad things- is when I'm completely absorbed with myself. But once I stop focusing on myself and get my eyes on God and as a result on helping others, the things that seemed so huge and personal "suddenly" disappear. I don't believe that simply by strongly wanting something I can attract it to myself. I DO believe that God will answer us according to the things that are our treasures and therefore know how important it is to have the right treasures. But if I could get what I wanted simply by wanting it then my life would be extremely different right now. I believe that we have the ability to make changes for the better in our lives, but they don't come because we focus on them really hard and then "the universe" gives them to us. Many people are dedicated and driven and have succeed because of those personality traits. I think people confuse what people take for themselves with "blessings". "The universe" will do nothing for us: we have the option to either 1) put our faith in God and receive His blessings as a result of our obedience to Him, or 2) go out and get what we want using our personalities, character traits, and ambitions.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Tipping Point
The “law of the few” is the concept about “the people critical to social epidemics” (pg. 34) and what makes these people so important in society and different from the rest of the world. In “The Tipping Point”, Malcolm Gladwell uses Paul Revere as an example. We all know the story of how Paul Revere rode around Boston and the surrounding cities to warn them that the British were coming and how because of his ride the British were amazed when they arrived to a group of people ready and waiting for them. The part of this incident that I didn’t know (and I’d assume there is a large population just as ignorant as I am) is how there was another man, William Dawes, who also rode that night warning people the British were coming. He went the opposite direction that Paul Revere went and covered the same amount of ground in the same amount of time, however, his impact was nowhere near as great as Paul Revere’s to the point where some people didn’t even hear about the news even though William Dawes had passed through their city. The reason Dawes wasn’t as successful as Revere was because he didn’t have the same connections to large groups of people as Revere did. Because of his positions in numerous “communities”, Revere knew all different types of people and therefore had the ability to spread news so much faster through his many channels. This is essentially what Gladwell means when he says the “law of the few”: how one person can cause an epidemic due to all of the people they are connected to through a number of ways. Gladwell calls these people “Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen”. Connectors are the people that we know that simply know everyone: they know someone in every circle and have connections to all different types of people. Mavens are the people that are extremely knowledgeable: they have “information on a lot of different products or prices or places”(pg. 62). They are known as “information brokers: sharing and trading what they know” (pg.69). Salesmen are the persuaders: the people who have the ability to persuade their friends and people they know “when they are unconvinced of what they are hearing” (pg. 70). According to Gladwell, all three of these people – Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen – are crucial in the tipping point.
This concept of “the law of the few” was really interesting to me, mainly because I could easily identify with it. Although I have never thought of this concept in this way, I was able to immediately think of people who fit these roles- especially the Connector. I really liked the examples that Gladwell used as he was talking about what the Connector does in the world such as Hush Puppies, etc. The reality is that people follow people and whether it is fashion, food, career, or life issues, we are going to listen more to what we are told by friends than we are by an advertisement. When you combined all of the talents of these few people you can truly start an epidemic. These people have the ability to change the world based on their connections, knowledge, and ability to persuade people to do things. What I took from this was the importance of using your gifts to the fullest. The example of Paul Revere was perfect because it showed what someone can do to use their talent to change the world. I am glad that we were able to see the reverse side as well to really put in perspective the power that these people hold and as the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”. As the next generation we have taken everything to the next level in the fact that we all have the ability to be Connectors due to technology. Facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. have given people the chance to connect with people they have never even met in person. I read recently about how someone received an organ from a person they met on Facebook. It is apparent that connections are essential in life and this book reemphasizes just how important they are. The impact you can have is directly related to your ability to connect with people. You can’t start an epidemic without having the ability to spread things to other people. I think of the importance of Connectors in campaigning. If Obama didn’t have connections to people in all different circles then he would have undoubtedly lost the election. But I’m sure that he had people on his campaign team that were Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen that had the ability to spread like wildfire the news of Obama and persuade people to vote for him.
One of the most impactful comments for me that Gladwell made was slightly for humor as he said he felt bad for the products that the Connectors didn’t like because it is probably the reason why they failed. The statement was humorous but so true. There are so many things that succeed or fail based off a few people’s opinions and their ability to impact the world. Is it sad that one person can have such a major impact on the world? Yes and no. If used for superficial reasons such as fashion and appearance then yes it is pretty sad. But if used to make a lasting impact on the world by bettering society then no it is not sad, it’s beautiful. I think the point of this section of the book was to open our eyes to the delicate power that is held by people – some of us – and how we can use it the same way Paul Revere did: to save our community!
This concept of “the law of the few” was really interesting to me, mainly because I could easily identify with it. Although I have never thought of this concept in this way, I was able to immediately think of people who fit these roles- especially the Connector. I really liked the examples that Gladwell used as he was talking about what the Connector does in the world such as Hush Puppies, etc. The reality is that people follow people and whether it is fashion, food, career, or life issues, we are going to listen more to what we are told by friends than we are by an advertisement. When you combined all of the talents of these few people you can truly start an epidemic. These people have the ability to change the world based on their connections, knowledge, and ability to persuade people to do things. What I took from this was the importance of using your gifts to the fullest. The example of Paul Revere was perfect because it showed what someone can do to use their talent to change the world. I am glad that we were able to see the reverse side as well to really put in perspective the power that these people hold and as the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”. As the next generation we have taken everything to the next level in the fact that we all have the ability to be Connectors due to technology. Facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. have given people the chance to connect with people they have never even met in person. I read recently about how someone received an organ from a person they met on Facebook. It is apparent that connections are essential in life and this book reemphasizes just how important they are. The impact you can have is directly related to your ability to connect with people. You can’t start an epidemic without having the ability to spread things to other people. I think of the importance of Connectors in campaigning. If Obama didn’t have connections to people in all different circles then he would have undoubtedly lost the election. But I’m sure that he had people on his campaign team that were Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen that had the ability to spread like wildfire the news of Obama and persuade people to vote for him.
One of the most impactful comments for me that Gladwell made was slightly for humor as he said he felt bad for the products that the Connectors didn’t like because it is probably the reason why they failed. The statement was humorous but so true. There are so many things that succeed or fail based off a few people’s opinions and their ability to impact the world. Is it sad that one person can have such a major impact on the world? Yes and no. If used for superficial reasons such as fashion and appearance then yes it is pretty sad. But if used to make a lasting impact on the world by bettering society then no it is not sad, it’s beautiful. I think the point of this section of the book was to open our eyes to the delicate power that is held by people – some of us – and how we can use it the same way Paul Revere did: to save our community!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Salsa, Soul and Spirit pg 181-201
I had never heard of the word "acculturation" until now but I can't think of a more accurate term for leadership in our nation. "People who are receptive, skillful, and adaptable to other cultures while staying centered in their own." I can't help but notice how easy it is to say this phrase but how much harder it is for people to actually do it. Although we live in a nation where we are culturally diverse, we are- as humans- creatures of habit. We reject the unfamiliar and it takes time for us to adapt and accept change. As a leader in our nation, we need the ability to accept faster, adapt quickly while remaining true to our own culture, beliefs, and standards. That last part is very key in our society I think because people seem to believe that they have to merely accept everything and everyone when that isn't always the case. There are differences in beliefs and cultures and just because you are the leader doesn't mean you have to change your personal beliefs in order to make everyone else happy. In fact, I think the true sign of a leader is the person who is able to stand on his own beliefs and values while open to ideas that do not alter those beliefs and values.
I liked the principles for leading that the book mentioned:
-Learn from the past
-Have a collective sense of community
-Treat each other as relatives
-Act generously and do not take more than your share
-Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness
-Have an indomitable hope for our future
A few of these principles were really substantial to me, the first being "learn from the past". I am a firm believer that we have books and are taught history and told stories about our family and country's past because it is suppose to be our guide for the future. There is nothing new under the sun so what our ancestors experienced is the same thing we will experience just possibly in different wrapping. What is the point of having history documented if we aren't going to learn from it? See what worked well and why, see what failed and why- we have the ability to make life so much easier on ourselves and others but we are normally either too blind or too arrogant to see it that way. If a leader learns from the past- his and others- then that shows wisdom.
"Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness". I feel as though these things are majorly lacking in our generation and it is very discouraging. We are an entitled generation and we are usually so busy running to the latest and greatest that we don't take the time to stop and be thankful for what we currently possess. I learned contentment not from this nation or from my generation- I learned it from my parents. They drilled it into me from my youth that everything I had was a blessing and how thankful I should always be for everything I owned. If this nation was more grateful then we wouldn't be in the preposterous debt we are in because we would have been focusing on what we do have and not what we lack. Hope is another characteristic that I feel has been robbed from my generation by our prosperity. We have everything at our fingertips that we have no need to have faith or hope for anything. Therefore the concept of believing for something is pretty foreign to us and we lack the strength that our parents and grandparents had. They had to hope in God for their survival- for the strength to endure slavery and segregation. The strength that they have is because of all they went through. Their hope was what got them through and we need to do our absolute best to covet that same hope for our generation. Finally, forgiveness. The phrase that comes to mind is the Bible verse that talks about forgiving enemies and loving those who persecute you. The ability to forgive isn't natural. It takes a special power from God to genuinely forgive others for the wrong they have done. It takes even more to forgive those who continuously wrong us and have no remorse for it. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness and bitterness is a large weight that people end up carrying around their entire lives that is constantly preventing them of being the people they were meant to be. The Bible says that we are to forgive others the way God forgives us and that when we don't forgive then God puts all of our faults back onto our account. I don't pretend to have this working because the ability to forgive is one of the hardest characteristics for me to acquire right now, but I can't do it on my own anyways. My strength is in the Lord- my hope and my trust. Hope not just for the future, but for myself. The belief that God will change my heart and give me the ability to forgive others the way I've been forgiven. "He who has been forgiven much, loves much". Can you truly be a good leader without love? Gratitude, hope, forgiveness- they all go hand-in-hand and they are characteristics of a good leader because the person who can do all those things has a true love for the people they are leading!
I liked the principles for leading that the book mentioned:
-Learn from the past
-Have a collective sense of community
-Treat each other as relatives
-Act generously and do not take more than your share
-Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness
-Have an indomitable hope for our future
A few of these principles were really substantial to me, the first being "learn from the past". I am a firm believer that we have books and are taught history and told stories about our family and country's past because it is suppose to be our guide for the future. There is nothing new under the sun so what our ancestors experienced is the same thing we will experience just possibly in different wrapping. What is the point of having history documented if we aren't going to learn from it? See what worked well and why, see what failed and why- we have the ability to make life so much easier on ourselves and others but we are normally either too blind or too arrogant to see it that way. If a leader learns from the past- his and others- then that shows wisdom.
"Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness". I feel as though these things are majorly lacking in our generation and it is very discouraging. We are an entitled generation and we are usually so busy running to the latest and greatest that we don't take the time to stop and be thankful for what we currently possess. I learned contentment not from this nation or from my generation- I learned it from my parents. They drilled it into me from my youth that everything I had was a blessing and how thankful I should always be for everything I owned. If this nation was more grateful then we wouldn't be in the preposterous debt we are in because we would have been focusing on what we do have and not what we lack. Hope is another characteristic that I feel has been robbed from my generation by our prosperity. We have everything at our fingertips that we have no need to have faith or hope for anything. Therefore the concept of believing for something is pretty foreign to us and we lack the strength that our parents and grandparents had. They had to hope in God for their survival- for the strength to endure slavery and segregation. The strength that they have is because of all they went through. Their hope was what got them through and we need to do our absolute best to covet that same hope for our generation. Finally, forgiveness. The phrase that comes to mind is the Bible verse that talks about forgiving enemies and loving those who persecute you. The ability to forgive isn't natural. It takes a special power from God to genuinely forgive others for the wrong they have done. It takes even more to forgive those who continuously wrong us and have no remorse for it. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness and bitterness is a large weight that people end up carrying around their entire lives that is constantly preventing them of being the people they were meant to be. The Bible says that we are to forgive others the way God forgives us and that when we don't forgive then God puts all of our faults back onto our account. I don't pretend to have this working because the ability to forgive is one of the hardest characteristics for me to acquire right now, but I can't do it on my own anyways. My strength is in the Lord- my hope and my trust. Hope not just for the future, but for myself. The belief that God will change my heart and give me the ability to forgive others the way I've been forgiven. "He who has been forgiven much, loves much". Can you truly be a good leader without love? Gratitude, hope, forgiveness- they all go hand-in-hand and they are characteristics of a good leader because the person who can do all those things has a true love for the people they are leading!
"He Who Shall Not Be Named"
To some you are a myth, a legend, a fable:
You are the one who did the things that others were not able.
You have a known enemy, as all heroes do,
However unlike in movies or comics,
The people You saved don't like...no, they HATE You!
At one point they loved You but that was short-lived,
Now You're despised after giving all You had to give.
You are He who shall not be named.
Granted, these haters of You aren't blatant
In fact they would probably disagree
But as soon as You ask for their true love they flee.
Because You're love, although free, is costly
Yet nothing is too much when compared with eternity.
If they could have bits and pieces of You they would
In their minds they should: their love is circumstantial- that's understood!
Even though they only "reverence" You a few times a year
You're called upon in times of anxiety and fear.
They may call out Your name in a "thank you" or two
But as soon as things go wrong, they are right back to cursing You.
You are He who shall not be named.
Now things are worse than ever
They are trying to blot You out of history forever
You are now outlawed from schools and private places
You will soon be officially banned from You're own birthday party!
Hatred for You is growing stronger
The minuscule thread of tolerance won't hold out much longer.
They hate You and want You dead but You they cannot see
Therefore they take it out on the few who have chosen to be set free.
They can say Your name in mocking or profanity,
But allowing us to share it in love is insanity.
You are He who shall not be named.
Extremists, radicals, fanatics, Bible thumpers- we have many names
Because the few of us that are truly real don't play games.
To be what we are is also borderline illegal
To take Your name and all the hatred and "shame" that comes with it can be lethal.
We are told to be quiet as Your name we declare
They are longing for the day that they can do more to us than just glare.
Tolerance applies to the whole world except us
Because when we live what You taught they make a huge fuss.
Who would have guessed that spreading the love of someone so great
Will be enough to make us in this nation the enemies of every state!
I have many fears as the days go on:
That my faith and strength may not be enough to carry on
But each day is full of decisions- great and small
Daily tests demonstrating whether or not I've given You my all.
I fail many times but in my weakness You are strong
And I am continuously reassured that to You alone can I belong.
By Your grace, with each passing day I will not be the same,
Believing that at the end of whatever is ahead I will be ready to die for Your name.
Jesus: may Yours be the only name I ever proclaim!
You are the one who did the things that others were not able.
You have a known enemy, as all heroes do,
However unlike in movies or comics,
The people You saved don't like...no, they HATE You!
At one point they loved You but that was short-lived,
Now You're despised after giving all You had to give.
You are He who shall not be named.
Granted, these haters of You aren't blatant
In fact they would probably disagree
But as soon as You ask for their true love they flee.
Because You're love, although free, is costly
Yet nothing is too much when compared with eternity.
If they could have bits and pieces of You they would
In their minds they should: their love is circumstantial- that's understood!
Even though they only "reverence" You a few times a year
You're called upon in times of anxiety and fear.
They may call out Your name in a "thank you" or two
But as soon as things go wrong, they are right back to cursing You.
You are He who shall not be named.
Now things are worse than ever
They are trying to blot You out of history forever
You are now outlawed from schools and private places
You will soon be officially banned from You're own birthday party!
Hatred for You is growing stronger
The minuscule thread of tolerance won't hold out much longer.
They hate You and want You dead but You they cannot see
Therefore they take it out on the few who have chosen to be set free.
They can say Your name in mocking or profanity,
But allowing us to share it in love is insanity.
You are He who shall not be named.
Extremists, radicals, fanatics, Bible thumpers- we have many names
Because the few of us that are truly real don't play games.
To be what we are is also borderline illegal
To take Your name and all the hatred and "shame" that comes with it can be lethal.
We are told to be quiet as Your name we declare
They are longing for the day that they can do more to us than just glare.
Tolerance applies to the whole world except us
Because when we live what You taught they make a huge fuss.
Who would have guessed that spreading the love of someone so great
Will be enough to make us in this nation the enemies of every state!
I have many fears as the days go on:
That my faith and strength may not be enough to carry on
But each day is full of decisions- great and small
Daily tests demonstrating whether or not I've given You my all.
I fail many times but in my weakness You are strong
And I am continuously reassured that to You alone can I belong.
By Your grace, with each passing day I will not be the same,
Believing that at the end of whatever is ahead I will be ready to die for Your name.
Jesus: may Yours be the only name I ever proclaim!
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