Why We Keep Training Our Leaders
One night this year as I was working the church's children ministry program, one of the kids came up to me and said sorry for an event that had occurred earlier that night. The problem had already been fixed, I wasn't concerned about it happening again, and so my response to the sorry was "Okay." and I didn't think anything else about it. However, one of the other leaders told me that was an incorrect response. He said there was a formula for what to say and I should have said "I forgive you!" Well, if your anything like me you don't like textbook answers, but as I thought about it I began to understand something.
Nobody can read my mind. The kids, the staff, even my friends and family can't know what I mean. "Okay" to them can just as easily mean I don't forgive you or I don't care about you. It is only when we know why we use textbook answers that we can begin to deviate from that path. It is not an attempt to sound forced or calloused, it is simply a formula for not messing up taught by someone who has probably learned that lesson the hard way. This is just an example of the importance of why if you are a leader you must not stop learning on the job. You can never see a problem from too many ways, or have too much good training. Remember that we don't become leaders to please ourselves. It is actually a form of serving....albeit from the front.
-Jason
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Sachem: The Bird Prince
When the English first began encountering the Native Americans in New England there were a multitude of tribes. Many of the tribes in this area were ruled by princes they called Sachems. Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, said this term referred to certain small birds. "A small bird is called a sachem...because of its 'sachem' or princelike courage and command over greater birds, that a man shall often see this small bird pursue and vanquish and put to flight the crow and other birds far bigger than itself." The idea was that a smaller bird (or person) could defeat his opponent who was overpowering due to his boldness and confidence.
If you live in a part of the world that is anything like mine (Louisiana) you have seen these small birds chase bigger birds off. They have no reason to expect to win, they just take charge with courage and tenacity. Take a moment to think about when you have acted like a prince before, not cocky or arrogant, but just bold. Maybe you have heard the old adage; when you don't know what to do, just act like you do. This is the same concept. Writers and thinkers through out time have preached principles such as "Fortune favors the bold" and apparently this is how the Native Americans of Massachusetts saw their world too.
Sometimes you just need to step out of your comfort zone and act like a prince. Be bold and go get what you want in life.
-Jason
source
When the English first began encountering the Native Americans in New England there were a multitude of tribes. Many of the tribes in this area were ruled by princes they called Sachems. Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, said this term referred to certain small birds. "A small bird is called a sachem...because of its 'sachem' or princelike courage and command over greater birds, that a man shall often see this small bird pursue and vanquish and put to flight the crow and other birds far bigger than itself." The idea was that a smaller bird (or person) could defeat his opponent who was overpowering due to his boldness and confidence.
If you live in a part of the world that is anything like mine (Louisiana) you have seen these small birds chase bigger birds off. They have no reason to expect to win, they just take charge with courage and tenacity. Take a moment to think about when you have acted like a prince before, not cocky or arrogant, but just bold. Maybe you have heard the old adage; when you don't know what to do, just act like you do. This is the same concept. Writers and thinkers through out time have preached principles such as "Fortune favors the bold" and apparently this is how the Native Americans of Massachusetts saw their world too.
Sometimes you just need to step out of your comfort zone and act like a prince. Be bold and go get what you want in life.
-Jason
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| A sachem (mockingbird) chasing off a crow. |
source
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