Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth…you will work for the best years of your life. When I say the best years I am referring to your, young and middle age years…or your years of optimum health. The alarm clock rings…and you arise for another day of toil and labor, and your mission to place food on the table, and shoes on the babies feet, and a roof over your head, and petrol for the automobile. Hopefully within the framework of your supreme efforts there is a little funds left over for a periodic vacation and some weekend enjoyment. Have you ever worked, sick? What about working when there are domestic issues that captivate your emotions and cloud your mind? What about working after you have cared for your aged parents…or perhaps your parents of parent…live in your home and instead of having young children to care for…you also have old children to manage?
Then there is the interpersonal communication issues and personality clashes that are endemic in an office environment. Maybe, colleagues desire to stand in the way of your success…unless they receive the financial recompense that they feel that they deserve. And, there is the office or workplace politics that is as difficult to cruise as a tsunami, while being as dangerous to your career. Of course there are the whispers and snide remarks and the gossip…that cuts like a knife to your soul.
Perhaps you work for a supervisor that is never happy with your job performance and who consistently moves the goal posts of success at the moment that you are prepared to spike the ball! Do you see the bosses friends and cohorts and sycophants…succeed….while you are stuck in place?
So, now, we get the subject of the title of this blog…dedication. Leaders, administrators, managers, supervisors, do you recognize dedication of your staff when you see it?
Dedicated people stay with the mission of the organization when there is no clear motivation to do so. I have often heard it said when complimenting a colleague regarding their job performance, ‘show it on my check,’ when in reality, money is never in the first place of primary motivations for dedicated members of your staff. Many people are motivated by a heartfelt vision of what the mission of the organization, that they are serving, and their supreme efforts to bring to fruition that vision. I have witnessed this type of allegiance in both the workplace and in church government. People that may be shut out of decision making and yet continue to serve as a promise and pledge to the congregation and the vision of the church.
When you are involved in a career, your heart and emotions and life are involved in your efforts. I know people at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale, that live and bleed Saluki Maroon! During my over 32 year career at the University, I worked countless hours that I was not compensated for and when I was away from SIUC…I thought about it. I wanted our department, Building Services, to be the best in the state of Illinois. I wanted Plant and Service Operations to be appreciated throughout the Campus. I wanted SIUC to succeed…and worked tirelessly toward that end.
The dedicated staff of Southern Illinois University are the secret to the success of the institution. People who are not there for the money. People, for whom the University resides in their heart. Those who refuse to take, no for an answer, when it comes to the renaissance of their SIUC!
The next time that you are interacting with dedicated staff in either church work or employment environments…look for the quiet heroes. They do not seek the limelight or the stage…but they are the backbone and the bedrock and the foundation of the organization, and the reason for the success of the group!
I was reflecting, this morning in church, what I liked so much about First Presbyterian. As I was listening to the, lovely, granddaughter of one of my fellow congregants…sing out so boldly and courageously, during a hymn, I considered what out church believes its mission is. Jane and Bill’s granddaughter is full of the active and visible love of God as are her grandparents. Jane S. and Bill M. have worked with a the Southern Illinois Diaper Bank for many years. They now are instrumental in our churches outreach to a, ‘Free Laundry Day’ each month. In three months the ‘Free Laundry Day’ has served, well over, 100 needy people at a cost of over one thousand dollars. By the way the majority of this money has been donated. They have 14 volunteers and they minister to people…a quarter at a time! Two of the 14 volunteers were originally recipients of the, ‘Free Laundry Day.’
I recall Jane telling our session, which is the governing board of our local church, that during the initial outreach of the laundry day…that a homeless person came in and stripped down to his underwear…and patiently waited as his clothes and sleeping bag were washing. Jane reports that there are repeat consumers of the ‘Free Laundry Day,’ and there are new people each month.
How would you feel if you were homeless or food insecure or destitute…and someone offered to provide you the funds to clean your clothes and your bedding and provided you the human dignity…of those, primary, needs?
I told Jane how moved that I was by her efforts to provide a fundamental care and outreach to those who seldom receive such consideration.
‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ James 2: 14-17. NIV
When I began working at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale on October 10, 1978, I knew no one and no one knew me. I could not believe my good fortune in obtaining a civil service position at the University. The position of Building Service Worker I in the housekeeping department, Building Services, had over 700 people on the test register. I truly believed that there must have been a mistake and that, in short order, I would be notified that my services were no longer required. As I traveled to my assignment of cleaning the Accounting building, Thalman Hall, my supervisor asked me if I had met the foreman, yet? I responded that I had not, and he assured me that, Jim, would be over sometime during the evening. As I became engrossed in my work…I suddenly heard a loud voice calling out, ‘Brooks’, and I stopped to see the kindly face of my foreman, Jim. Jim smoked a large cigar that caused his head to be enveloped in a blue ring of smoke and the pleasant odor of tobacco. He then said that I could sit down for a few minutes…as he was my boss. I immediately felt comfortable with my boss! It was obvious to me that he was interested in my success at SIUC.
Jim checked on me on a nightly basis. He not only was a fount of knowledge regarding information concerning Building Services, but was rich in history of the SIU Carbondale Campus. I soon discovered that Jim was talking about me with his colleagues, as well as the Superintendent of Building Services and the night manager. Jim was a gentleman. He informed me, early on in my career, that he understood that I was a christian and that he would endeavor to not use ‘salty’ language when he was in my presence…although he recounted that he enjoyed colorful speech!
At my first promotion, in the department, Mr. O’Hara, the Superintendent, told me that Jim could not say enough good about me. One of my colleagues told me that he had spoken with all of the foreman and that they all had a high opinion me. This was all due to my mentor, Jim!
Jim described to me the lengths that he had to go to care for his disabled wife. He had to bathe her, and this included lifting her into the bath tub and lifting her out. He had to dress her and feed her and care for all of her physical needs. When Jim was doing all of these tasks he was 69 years old.
The first foreman that I hired, when I became Superintendent…20 years after I was hired as a Building Service Worker I, was a wise African American woman named, Jewel. I received the promotion during very difficult circumstances for the department and the threat of privatization of our services. I was looking for a person of professional, stellar, leadership qualities…Jewel was all of that and more! She served as my advisor and counselor and friend…her opinion was something that I highly valued. Jewel was honest and her counsel was unvarnished and pure.
Alfie came to work in our office. He is of the Muslim faith and prays on a regular basis. Through university contacts that I had, in those days, I was able to assist him in re-enrolling in school. I liked him from the moment that I met him and saw rich potential. Today my friend, has a full-time job with the Grounds department and every time his mother sees me…she hugs me and thanks me for what I was able to do for Alfie. What she does not realize is that…being privileged to know, Alfie, has done so much more for me…than my meager help to him!
I was looking, as all good husbands do, for the ideal Valentines Day gift for MJ. I had been watching a holiday decorative pillow, at Macy’s, since before we went to Florida, last month. The needle point image on the pillow is of a French Bulldog with a holiday toboggan on his head and a red coat and scarf. Although the image is of a Frenchy…he looks just like our, dearly departed Boston Terrier, Wallace.
Wallace came to live with us after a celebratory luncheon at a Fairview Heights restaurant called, Lottawata Creek, and our indulgence in the drink special, Long Island Iced Tea. We were celebrating MJ’s good news regarding a medical situation with her eyes, that had, had us worried. Admist the humongous platter of french fries and the delicious Reuben Sandwiches, Jonathon noticed that the Long Island Iced Teas…were on special. As we enjoyed one….and then another…we felt progressively more elated and in a party mood! Finally when the dinner and the libations were completed…we thought it best to go next door to the mall and shop for awhile and regain our equilibrium.
As we walked down the glistening and mirror finished halls of the St. Clair Mall…MJ announced that we should look in at the Pet Store to see if we could find a Christmas present for our lone dog, Brody. And so we did, We soon noticed that the establishment had two little Boston Terrier pups and that one was, what they called seal, but we later discovered that he was brown…and not seal. He was a Brown Boston. Wallace presented himself as a tiny bundle of brown with a snotty nose and a face that only a mother could love! We were mesmerized! We had to have him and immediately plunked down $350 dollars to hold him until he could be cleared by their vet as being healthy enough to go to his forever home. The Pet Shop staff assured us that he was completely healthy and that he was just recovered from a cold…as his little nose ran.
When we returned in about four days…he was ready to join our family…still with productive sneezes and anxious eyes. As we carried our new family member, bundled up in a Christmas scarf…he peered out with only his face on view for passer-bye’s. Many shoppers stopped us and inquired as to whether we had a little dog or a rabbit?
Being assured that Wallace T., for Long Island Ice Tea, was well…we proceeded to take him outside to do his business, in single degree temperatures, he did little more than shiver and whimper. He came home on Friday night and Monday morning we took him to our Vet where she informed us that he was close to pneumonia and to not let him go outside until he was well. Thus…pee pads….
Wallace was our buddy. Of our three dogs…no one was more excited to greet his momie when she returned from being out. He danced with his front half moving in one direction and his back half moving in the opposite direction…and at times…was a bit incontinent. For many years I have taken a nap in the evening…and when Wallace needed to conduct a visit outside…he would jump on to the bed and stand on me. If I played possum…he would subsequently leave and then, shortly return…to replicate the procedure of waking up dad. His other wake-up technique was to tap me with his paw and then observe the results.
Wallace snored. Not a low snore…but a Great Dane…snore!
Wallace, who had been the picture of health, declined rather rapidly. The evening before he passed…he jumped on to the bed and taped me with his paw…and waited for the required result. This action was significant as he had not done so for several months.
If there was any concern that was greater than fairness in the workplace…I do not recall it. Each of us are members of the workforce for a variety of reasons. A primary passion for working is the need for money. As I have commented, on numerous occasions, most geographical locations are splendid…if you have enough money to enjoy the benefits of living there. Southern Illinois is one of the most lovely locations to reside in, with the ancient hills and valleys created by the glaciers stopping nearby, and the luxurious natural surroundings. Southern Illinois is a hard place to earn a living. Consistent with the need for a living wage is a clear plan for not only attaining good job performance but a map for success, or promotion, for ambitious employees.
There is a valuable creed that I attempted to live by as a supervisor/manager/administrator…for over 30 years, ‘Be friendly, but not familiar…good, but not gullible.’
If you are honored to lead a department or group of colleagues, the first rule is to remind yourself, daily, that the success of the operation is not solely because you are the leader, and in fact it may have little to do with you…but rather the hard work of your colleagues….and when others disagree with you…they may be right.
The upgrade of excellent staff, that are critical thinkers and feel strongly regarding their viewpoints…is your responsibility.
The renown author, Doris Kearns Goodwin, wrote a bestseller entitled, Team of Rivals, where she discussed President Lincoln filling his cabinet with, skilled and brilliant, political opponents.
Nothing is a more glaring red light…than the favoritism of some people and the ignoring of others who have not produced the required obeisance. I remember when my supervisor upgraded a person who he played pool with and enjoyed fish dinners with…and ignored a more skilled professional who desired the position. Managers and leaders seem to believe that what they are doing is hidden from the rest of the team. Nothing could be further from the truth. We all seek to be treated by a recognized and consistent set of work standards that do not include who the bosses personal friend is. Good work performance, measured by an agreed upon standard that all members of the community understand, should be recognized. Herculean work performance…has to be recognized!
During my time at the university I strove to treat my colleagues, many of whom disagreed with me on issues, as I wanted to be treated…and considered not, their criticisms.
For a supervisor or a manager or an administrator…do not seek your friends from the groups that you have been tasked to lead. This is a prescription for disaster. Now that I am retired…I am humbled to have a few friends from my days at SIUC…but I am no longer their leader. I have had colleagues tell me, sometimes years after we first began working together, that they respected my fairness. I could not have received a better compliment.
I battled lay-offs for my entire career at the university. I was tasked with budget cutting on almost an annual basis. During one fiscal year I cut one millions dollars without laying off the precious staff of Building Services.
I recall the imminent reality of laying off several staff if I could not find the money in other than salary dollars. I found it and presented it to my boss and we agreed that there would be no lay-offs in Building Services. I then proceeded to a meeting of the Employee Advisory Committee to the Merit Board, in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. I had no more than arrived at my hotel room when my assistant, Elizabeth, called me to tell me that 13 lay-off notices had been passed out to members of my staff. When I telephoned the director he told me that he was compelled to lay-off a number of my people due to another superintendent not being able to find the money in OTS dollars and thus members of his staff were going to be removed.
Never compare one colleague with another’s job performance or lack thereof… and expect either member of your staff to be happy with a comparison that is outside the parameters of recognized good job performance.
I, vividly remember, our consternation and dismay as members of the Civil Service Council, when our president wrote the university president, in the latter 1990s, to ask if he would consider a cost of living raise for the civil service staff at Carbondale…in view of the fact that he had just awarded a, sizable increase in pay, for all of his, immediate staff, at the Stone Center. He responded that ‘his staff’ was underpaid and that he felt compelled to give them a raise. He went on to inform us that sadly there were no funds available for, even a small raise, for the civil service staff on campus.
We civil service staff…thought that we were a part of the president’s staff…as he was the leader of all of us….
Having spent 31 of my 32 years and 2 moths and 3 weeks of my career at Southern Illinois University as a supervisor of others…I have a few reflections on what I think comprises a good supervisor. A valuable learning tool for me in my quest to be a good leader, was having worked for leaders who were not so good.
I remember beginning a new job, during my teenage years, where I was neither trained, or had the parameters of the job duties or expectations explained to me. I simply had to judge what needed to be accomplished and, ‘wing it,’ as the the methodology in completing the tasks. This, hands off, style of supervisor, left me often failing to perform what was expected of me…until I was reprimanded for not performing up to par.
Another employment position that I occupied, for nearly a year included being cursed at…on a regular basis. Finally, I had enough and announced to my boss that I was quitting, because I was a human being and did not deserve to be cursed at…he apologized and bought me biscuits and gravy for breakfast.
As a manager I was informed by my supervisor that he lied about me on a regular basis to our Director, and that I should not worry….since he was my boss and he knew the truth of my good performance. This supervisor explained to me that what ever went wrong in the department…he blamed me…because the Director could not believe that he had anything to do with mistakes.
Thus, when I was entrusted with supervisory duties…I desired to treat others like I wished, and wanted, to be treated. I began with the philosophy that if I treated people right…excellent job performance would follow. As the popular motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, said, ‘I really do not care how much you know…until I know how much you care…about me.’
I found that the best work performance takes place where people feel comfortable and happy and recognized for their efforts. It does not all revolve around money. Good pay is important..but equally important is a persons belief that their supervisor values them as a professional and a valuable member of the team.
The leaders that I have admired most in my life are those who had not forgotten where they came from. A leader who realized that they were simply a member and a colleague of the group that they had been given the supervisory duties for. Empathy is the most important component of a good supervisor. Ms./Mr. Supervisor, do you realize that your colleagues are often smarter than you and have important skills that you do not posses? Do you understand that when you lie to them…they know that you lied to them?
Communication is vital with your colleagues. You can never communicate enough. Your fellow workers can not realize what you expect unless you tell them. How can others know what the mission or the changing of the mission entails if know one tells them? If there are budget issues…explain the concerns. If there are performance issues, inform your colleague what the specific issue is, and be certain that it is work performance related, and tell the person exactly what changes you expect to ameliorate the discrepancy.
Speak to your colleagues with the universal language of humanity. I have witnessed many leaders who expected their co-workers to fit into their box of expectations that was dictated by their, religion, politics or lifestyle. Nothing is more damaging to clear and logical work performance.
You will never have a productive staff if you fail to train them. Training is hard work. Training is the first step in being an effective supervisor. It takes as long as it takes. People learn at different levels and speeds. As long as consistent progress is being achieved, the training program is effective.
No one is perfect. Were you perfect before you became a supervisor/manager/administrator? Did you ever extend your break time? Did you ever extend your lunch period? Did you ever report for duty…ill? Do you know what it is like to not be a 100% on the job?
During my long career as a supervisor/manager/administrator…I spoke to colleagues who were considering suicide. I counseled, many friends who were battling mental illness. Many lonely and depressed, and people who were going through divorce or cancer or the illness of a child…or the loss of a child…. These colleagues are valuable and important and vital to the operation. They can not be discounted or marginalized for some faux standard that no one can meet or that came out of a manual or a…heartless…study!
‘Be friendly, but not familiar…be good, but not gullible.’
When I was a Building Custodian, which was a housekeeping crew leader, my greatest joy was for my Building Service Worker I’s to become what I was! When a member of your staff understands that you are working for their promotion and their betterment…they will respond with loyalty to the organization and yeoman work toward the goals of excellence of the group.
My standard during my career was, If we err…let us err on the side of mercy.
I think that we are infatuated with the idea of miracles? We certainly need them. We read of, Alice in Wonderland, and we are captivated by, Jack and the Beanstalk. Television and movies show us the most fantastic happenings. The television show, Lost, illustrated members of a plane crash being marooned on an island that could not be be found. In the last episode of the long running series we discovered that the characters had all died, an undetermined amount of time ago, and that although their story lines had changed…they did not realize the change.
The scripture tells us of the blind receiving their sight and the dead being brought back to life. Jesus healed all manner of illness and disability and seemed to do so with little struggle or strain.
‘When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And he said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ which is translated, (Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.’ John 9:6 NKJV
Although today’s world seems to be a bit more like the Twilight Zone rather than Alice in Wonderland, there are still miracles all around us.
When I witness the miracle of Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale and the transformative work that it does in the lives of countless numbers of people…I am awe struck.
To be a member of a church that is constantly striving to reach-out to those who need help, is Christ work here on earth. The most recent of these efforts being the, Laundry Project, where members of our congregation pay for the washing and drying of the poor and homeless, laundry.
MJ and I were in Aldi’s Grocery Store this afternoon when a woman fell to the floor and began to have a seizure. Almost the entire store rallied to her aid…the situation was extremely frightening, but the demonstrated love and concern for a fellow human being was extraordinary.
When I see television commercials for, St. Judes Hospital, and the work that they do with children suffering with cancer…I see angels.
I often ponder what a wonderful blessing and honor it is to live in the United States. Our rich history of being a home for the down-trodden and the forgotten, ‘bring me your wretched refuse from your teeming shore,’ and the constitutional guarantee for fundamental fairness for all. To be able to live our lives according to the rule of law…and not the whims of a autocratic or dictator…is a safety and a practical miracle. Our nation has been the example to emulate for the rest of the world. Countries that seek freedom of thought and religion and lifestyle…seek our example. For my lifetime we have lectured other nations regarding human rights.
The U.S. is a nation for the little guy and gal! We are a nation where the poor and needy and hungry and lost…can receive help and redress of their grievances and hurts and the wrongs that have been perpetrated against them.
We are a nation where persons color or religion, or lack thereof, or their support of a political party…is irrelevant. We are a nation for which there is no equal on the Earth.
Perhaps we are living in a miracle…if we can keep it?
It is another cold day in Little Egypt. Snow may be coming tomorrow. I, longingly, recall the balmy Gulf breezes of Miramar Beach, Florida, two weeks ago. I remember telling my friend, Peter, who is a internationally respected historian, that Populism is a good thing. Peter, kindly, responded that it depended what type of Populism I was speaking about.
‘Populism – A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.’ Google Dictionary
‘Winning over masses has been at the heart of politics since antiquity. It is referred to as populism if done so by delivering extremely simplified answers to citizens. The German born political thinker Hannah Arendt (1906 – 1975) examined this issue in her world famous book Totalitarianism. She wanted to understand what had turned the democratic Republic of Weimar and the communist USSR into extremist-totalitarian systems. Arendt argued that both had a common denominator: populism.’ Eyes on Europe
I have noticed, for the majority of my life, the toothy smile of leaders and others, who ultimately had an agenda for me that was for their benefit…and not for mine. In my early years I purchased items from salespeople who seemed especially nice or concerned regarding my well being and advancement…only later to meet them and discover that their stories and faux-empathy was short lived.
Two institutions that I have been involved with for, nearly, all of my life, are the church and employment. I can remember ministers advising me to do things and perform tasks that redounded to the increase of their finances and served their purposes. Also, supervisors or bosses or administrators have presented the grandest of smiles and the kindest of words…only to turn their back when I failed to be of use to them or exhibited a variance in my opinion from theirs.
So, I have looked for actions to back up wonderful smiles and condescending platitudes. When someone speaks to you according to their biased perception of you, perhaps they are insulting your intelligence. I recall a graduate student in the Geology department, many years ago, visiting our custodial office at Parkinson Lab. He laughed and mentioned that he assumed that our walls would be covered with nude photos of women. Members of my crew included two men in their 60’s. One had been a career regional salesman for the former Blue Bell Foods of DuQuoin, Illinois and the other had been the head of the finance department for a multi-state oil company.
I have observed many people seeking a church that cares about them and their family. Many cults have a prescribed method of populism to gain membership into their group. ‘Love Bombing,’ is a term that describes the showering of attention that prospective members of cultish churches experience. However, later comes the encroaching into the finances and personal lives of the new recruits. Soon, the people who were seeking the benevolent smiles and concerns of others, are living under a restrictive and draconian church government that gives them stress that they had no idea that they were buying into.
Have you ever experienced leaders who assert that they are geniuses or that they hear from God…or that they are the chosen one. Yet, when critical issues, regarding the leader, come to light, they know nothing and are not aware of any of the substantive accusations or issues that are brought forward, concerning their behavior?
Smiles are wonderful…just make sure the person that is smiling at you is not the animated character of the old cartoon, Dudley Do Right of the Mounties…Snidely Whiplash.
I could not help but notice that our church parking lot was full and overflowing this morning. I recalled when that was the norm, every Sunday. This was the Sunday where the congregation voted to accept the slate of candidates for deacon and elder, for three year terms. MJ and I were pleased to see our son Jonathon accept a term as elder. I have enjoyed being a member of a church for the past 21 years that is governed by a board of elders that are elected by the congregation, as opposed to one person making the rules and policies of the church…with little or no counsel from the membership. It has been my experience that God speaks to all of us and does not reserve his plan for an individuals life by telling the pastor about it…and neglecting to share his views with the congregant. The inherent folly of relying on one leader to make substantial changes in either an individuals life or a countries governmental direction, and be witnessed time and again.
First Presbyterian Church, USA, both respects and encourages diversity of thought and lifestyles. Rather than seeking a cookie cutter approach to discipleship, our church encourages he hard questions. Instead of restricting membership to a rigid dogma or ideology, we welcome all christians to our communion table. There was a palpable excitement in the midst of the church, this morning, as we considered where we were going and who can we help. It is a special feeling to see people from all walks of life come together in Christ’s love and a desire to help others.
When people are released from the shackles of human ideology and the personal piccalillis of leaders who assure those listening to them that they have heard from God and have the message of the day….The vibrancy and enthusiasm of ‘the many’ is marshaled to live the message of the gospel among the poor and the downtrodden and those who have been marginalized or forgotten by society.
‘Power corrupts…and ultimate power…corrupts absolutely.’ John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton
‘The people which sat in darkness saw great light, and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.’ Matthew 4:16. KJV
Our church government is composed of diverse people…just like our congregation…just like our nation. There is a security and a safety in a pastor…or a president…not having advisors who all agree with them. The founding fathers of our country created through our Constitution three equal branches of government. It is called…checks and balances. When the wise counsel that our country was founded on is abdicated or acquiesced for either personal gain or political expediency…or because confrontation is difficult….Everyone is the looser.
Of late, we are hearing an abundance of discussion regarding the subject of truth. I recall my youth, more and more…it seems, where my teachers slowly and systematically taught me about truth. I learned that 2+2=4. Later came the multiplication tables and learning cursive, yes I am old, and my first forays into history.
‘Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in December 1620.’ Wikipedia
We were taught about our Presidents, from our first, George Washington, to the president in office when I began school, John F. Kennedy. I remember hearing, on numerous occasions, that anyone could be elected President of the United States. I wondered how this could be possible.
As I grew and matured I could not help but notice that many of my elders expounded what they assured me was truth…when in reality it is was only their opinion.
When I became a christian, 51 years ago, and as time progressed, I discovered that there were people who cherry picked scriptures to support their faith opinion. When we say that a modern leader is in the mold of King David of the Old Testament…we are foisting our opinion on others. When we attest that a christian is meant to be rich in this worlds goods…it strains credulity to find this assertion in the life of Christ and his ministry to the poor and infirm.
I discovered, in school, that my word was my bond. It was not acceptable to change what I had said or to lie. I noticed that the loudest voice seemed to be heard. Someone who acted or played the part of a person in authority…quickly garnered followers.
Truth is not what someone tells you to accept. ‘Truth – that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.’ Dictionary
‘A fact is a thing that is known to be consistent with objective reality and can be proven to be true with evidence. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability – that is whether it can be demonstrated to correspond to experience.’ Dictionary
We all have opinions and personal ideas and many of us enjoy conspiracy theories. As long as they do not adversely affect others…no harm is done. However, when we contract out or privatize the hard work of examining and researching of hypothesis that are presented to us as truth…we abdicate our humanity.
Once I had a supervisor who instructed me to inform my staff of a specific rationale for a decision that he had made. The next day…he told me a completely different story and said for me to correct what I had to told the staff the day before. Then, on the third day he had a new rendition that he expected me to carry forward as truth. I told him that I would say no more to the staff until he settled on which lie that he wanted to promulgate as truth.
There is not a more debilitating feeling than to have a friend or a supervisor tell you a lie and expect you to not have the intelligence to understand the ruse.
Truth is a powerful tool. Southern Illinois University Chancellor, Sam Goldman, said of me, that he had never met anyone like me who would speak truth to power. I am certain that I was unworthy of such a commendation…but I know that what he said of me…I endeavored to do.
When our leaders are more afraid of loosing their position than protecting those who they are responsible for…we are lost.
The Jazz Man 