SUNDAY THOUGHTS: ON THE JOB

Nah, Leaders. Nope. Tell the truth. You don’t just want employees to be faithful. Faithfulness isn’t the only attribute you prefer, but you do tend to trot it out when you’re bothered by someone’s departure, or demanding blind loyalty and compliance. Being consistently present can’t be the principal thing.

You want people to be competent, intelligent, qualified, and confident, too. You want them to have a reason to be invested in the organization, that’s rooted in their good character. You want them to care about the quality of their own work, and how it benefits the whole— not just you. Their excellence will often be attributed to you, and you know full well that you couldn’t execute their job on your best day!

You say (and threaten) that it’s easy to replace people, and it’s even easier to find eager people who’ll do the work for less, but why would you even lead with that attitude? Seems kind of manipulative, don’t you think? So, you’re just assigning duties to, and collecting the desperate, the beholden, the unqualified, the opportunistic, the anxious people pleasers, and the yes men? Oh, they are there, alright, bowing and grinning, and nodding on cue, but have you noticed that you have to constantly micromanage, make excuses for, clean up after, berate, and correct them? You already know that you can’t trust that they’re going to make wise decisions, follow directions, or follow through! You have to have your hands in everything? Is that the plan? Being surrounded by dutiful idiots who are prone to embarrass you, is not a flex.

I was reminded of something my Dad used to say: “If you’re a leader, and you’re not training and mentoring somebody to take your place, you’re not leading. You have a fan club.”

A problem arises when you, Mr. or Ms. Leader, think people belong to, or should be beholden to you. You can’t be insecure, or envious of people’s abilities, the attention that their ability brings, and the expectation it garners for maintaining standards, efficiency, and acknowledging actual skill. Devaluing people, gaslighting them, and expecting them to play small, is an indication of the state of your heart, not theirs. Applauding and promoting mediocrity, in their faces, doesn’t make the competent person sad, or look bad. They are fully aware of what effectiveness looks like. It’s what they’ve studied, practiced, worked for, and always aspired to achieve. Your undue criticism of, and unwillingness to treat them as the adults and accomplished professionals they are, just frees them to exit, and unite with people, and explore places and spaces that value and encourage what they have to offer, as opposed to people who unnecessarily compete with, belittle, and aim to control or own them—and their gifts and talents. 

A leader who doesn’t recognize or utilize the resources that are right under his or her nose, and prefers to marginalize or demonize them, will soon become bored with, and  resent the previously lauded faithful, for lacking skills they never had. That’s not logical nor fair.

Playing games and pitting people against each other, may be amusing, but that revolving door of competent people, isn’t (and neither is witnessing the destruction of a once respected, thriving organization).

#currentevents 

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: POETRY PROMPT

A CITIZEN’S LAMENT 

They seem to wake each day, armed with new ideas designed to upset, disappoint, and grieve 

It’s like a twisted game, laden with tricks and traps that only evil can conceive 

They’re so consumed by greed; it’s like they can’t proceed unless they’re causing others harm

And those who should, and could defend the greater good? Too compromised to raise alarm.

The stress and frustration blanketing the nation, is like a fog that just won’t lift

Many lament “How long will the assault go on? When will the rank atmosphere shift

To a time when logic, competence, and empathy prevailed 

When leaders earned respect, not ridicule and jest?”

Somewhere along the way we’ve failed 

We applaud idiocy; praise mediocrity; condemn the innocent; reward guilt

Watch as there’s less and less of service, righteousness

And honor for what others built

If not for faith, some find that they would lose their minds; conclude there’s nothing they can do

Throw up their hands and quit; retreat, or just sit on their hands; hope for a new

And better chapter, where

People assist, and care

And don’t just think about themselves 

When they choose a side, or cast a vote, they try to see the plight of someone else 

Yes, they seem to wake, ready to cause heartache

But their reign won’t last always 

There will come a time when the undeserved grace they find

Will surely fade away

In the meantime— don’t faint or fall

Be anxious for nothing at all

What you seed power to, will grow

And though weapons will form

You need not conform, nor stray away from what you know

VRWc2026

#currentevents 

SUNDAY THOUGHTS

Don’t get it twisted, Friend. You’ve been neither deliberately forgotten, accidentally omitted, maliciously discarded, cruelly rejected, strategically overlooked, nor purposely excluded. You’ve been divinely rescued. You’ve been graciously protected. You’ve been mercifully hidden. You’ve been relieved from any need to fit in, play along, settle, shrink, seek validation, or waste time. 

That disinterest and indifference you feel is legitimate. It’s not apathy or laziness, it's honesty. It's medicinal. That laughter at what impresses others, and drives them to ever-dizzying heights of busyness, is loud and authentic. 

Your mind and heart is in a fantastic place. 

Your eyes are open. 

Your sense of smell is keen. 

You know what has changed, and what has, unfortunately, remained the shady same. 

Whether you were snatched or gently guided, you were saved from mistaking burdens for blessings. Aren’t you glad?

Understand. God doesn’t want you over there, settling and making excuses for, consumed with, and conforming to that— nor them. His omniscience and omnipresence informs, enlightens, and dictates the paths upon which you belong, the company you should keep, and the spaces where you will be nurtured, safe, strengthened, motivated, and most creative. He prepares your table. He wants you where HE is, and has given you the wisdom, and experience to discern what is of Him, and what’s superficial, resource and health draining, self-serving fluff, that does little, if anything, to represent or glorify Him. 

Deviate from what your gut is telling you, at your own peril. Don’t doubt that you see exactly what you see.

Remember: Green pastures. Still waters. Not sinkholes and tsunamis. 

He wants your soul restored, not tortured; not compromised. His yoke is easy, not a hustle or a chore. His burden is light, not a grind. 

WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS: TELEVISION

 

TUESDAY THOUGHTS: POETRY PROMPT

IN HIGH PLACES 

We don’t think you belong here

We really don’t want your kind

But, our messaging must convey

We have an open mind

We must shed our reputation 

Exchange the old for new

So, if we must become diverse 

We’ll choose the worst of you

We’ll decide what version 

We want the world to see

And when you fail

Because, you will

There’ll be no scrutiny 

We’ll pick the ones with least appeal 

Who fit our narrow view

Tropes; stereotypes 

Sob story hype

Look. Any fraud will do

Any willing stooge

Void of a spine; integrity

Any gullible lump

Seeking opportunity 

It’s our goal to say, “We told you so!”

“We looked! We tried!”

But, we know our search was  a sham

We know who we denied—

Brilliant minds

Promising finds

We said weren’t a good fit

Scholars who actually did the work

We wanted none of it

We couldn’t admit the experts 

They would trash our narrative

We couldn’t welcome the competent

We’re much too sensitive 

We’re so steeped in our bigotry 

We can’t promote the thought 

That anyone unlike us 

Is our equal, as we ought

No. It’s our job to hold up

As examples, those that we

Are comfortable in selling to 

Our strict community 

We’ll hire buffoons 

Human cartoons 

Those with no sense of pride

The sellouts; the delusional 

Those who can’t pick a side

The ones who grin

Shuffle and spin

Just glad to be inside

We’ll boost their egos

Knowing full well 

They’re unqualified 

Were there better choices?

Sure! But, once again, we can’t 

Be found embracing excellence 

Or the intelligence 

That does exist— that does persist

Oh no! We can’t do that!

The end result is, bright and dull

Are tossed in the same vat

Have you all not noticed 

Who we always lift up high

Who we platform, push, promote

Who we identify?

It’s always those who we know

Are apt to be exposed 

In whose histories are hiccups 

Tragic, if disclosed 

We do our choosing purposely 

So, in the end it seems

We weren’t the evil arbiters 

Of ending someone’s dreams

We can say we gave a chance 

But, as we’ve always known

You simply don’t belong here

We’ll claim your stuff, now build own

And when you do?

We’ll be right there to burn it to the ground 

If serving us is not your goal

We don’t want you around 

If your presence isn’t to improve our bottom line 

We certainly can’t have you concocting your own design!

We don’t want you here

It’s just not something we can say

But seriously, why do you want to be here anyway?

VRWc2026

#currentevents 

FRIDAY THOUGHTS: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT