“Before I had crossed the threshold of my church I was made to realize that I was shepherd of a divided flock.” – Anna H. Shaw
Groups by their nature divide.
Whether a religion, a culture, a tribe a group never stays the same. It’s either growing, contracting or splitting.
- Some collapse when they’ve achieved their purpose.
- Others die when they fail to.
- Some grow beyond their ability to maintain a common ground.
- Others quickly die on the wings of anger.
Anger is a catalyst for change.
Get someone in a group angry enough and they will poison the well. Clear water will become foul and tribes will move to cleaner environments or groups better suited to their true nature.
Contracting and Splitting are usually negative signs for groups, but occasionally they are a method for growth.
Leaders make decisions until they are disposed.
We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.
– George S. Patton
True leaders exercise tremendous power over groups, until they are overcome or ignored.
When communities start focusing on the negative rather than the positive they either collapse or destroy.
The only cure is to add so many positives to the mix that the negatives get drowned. That’s a tough job from the leadership role and we have to realize that it’s human nature to find the differences and for communities to divide.
To grow, we need to find things in common, we need to remember all the good stuff and remind ourselves constantly that good overcomes the negative, but only when delivered in sufficient quantity and quality.
As a leader, you have the power to bring the positive back into the community that you built, but you can never do it by focusing on the negative.
We all make the choice of whether to lead.
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. – Niccolo Machiavelli
Anyone can lead, but few make the choice. Even fewer make the choice to lead when times are tough.
When anger is stirred you make the choice.
If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness. – Nelson Mandela
When my family is divided, here’s my choice.
Conflict comes to all families and it’s sad when giving people become angry and disagree.
There are hurtful words exchanged, confidences broken, disappointments and let downs.
Anger can be a catalyst for new actions and new directions, but forgiveness, support, hope, faith and love build dreams.
I can choose to condemn, but I choose to build.
- I can choose to be angry, but I choose to forgive.
- I can choose to be spiteful, but I choose to be supportive.
- I can choose to be selfish, but I choose to give.
- I can choose to be alone, but I choose to be together.
- I can choose to be hurt, but I choose to be enabled.
- I can choose to be sad, but I choose to be happy.
- I can choose to hate, but I choose to love.
Please don’t ask me to condemn any of the many people I care for.
I know many people who want me to stand up for the right and condemn the wrong.
I’m happy to condemn actions, but not people.
Life is too hard to waste time judging others.
For the record …
Many people have helped me along the way in amazing and selfless ways. Many of them disagree with each other and often times with me. None of them are perfect.
Face it, nobody is — ESPECIALLY ME.
If my friends or members of this amazing family hurt you, disappoint you or anger you, please try to forgive them.
If you can’t I understand. Forgiveness can be hard.
The key to success in loving everyone is low expectations.
When you least expect people to be amazing, they will astound you with their kindness.
My best results have been built through long-term relationships and building value.
There Are Amazing Events on the Schedule Right Now That Can Help You Do That
Let me know if there is any way I can help you get to these events.
They will change your life!
Let’s get you to the next step today!
All the best,
Ken McArthur
Tobri.com
KenMcArthur.com
jvAlertLive.com
And more, more, more.
very powerful Ken, very moving, much needed. Thank you for this.
Great post, speaks volumes to me personally.
Thanks Ken great post, I always feel lucky when listening and reading wise words, explained in such a way; your consistency and way with words to are very special.
thanks for the great share here ….plz be continue.