ENGLISH

There are many individuals of influence walking the streets, sitting in boardrooms, enacting legislation, teaching our children or interacting within culture in a multitude of ways. Many of these leaders are wearing masks hiding various types of prejudice. Prejudice is simply pre-judgment as assumptions are made without accurate information; opinions are formed without facts and beliefs are established without truth.

Love frequents the languages of relationship, social justice, and faith, but is seldom voiced in reference to leadership. This void is misguided because love is, in fact, applicable to every sphere of leadership influence. After all, leadership is the business of people and love is our central need. Governments, businesses, educational systems, or any organizational structure for that matter cannot be instruments of justice (power used for good) without the love-motivated values of its leaders.

I would love to be four inches taller! I mean, my seven-year-old grandson is almost as tall as me! I would be so happy to have the beauty and body I enjoyed when I was 21 so I wouldn’t have to “spackle, prime and paint” my face and cover the gray in my chemically-dependent hair. Oh, how I would love to time-travel to my past with my present understanding, go through the doors that my shame and fears kept me from, and refuse to do the things that were seeded from the pressure of people.

Each individual inherently carries an irreplaceable expression designed to bless others and impact their world for good. This is a treasure that must be guarded from the assaults of those who disregard its value or feel entitled to exploit it for their own gain. Give lavishly to those who celebrate your contribution and who reciprocate by giving their very best.