Dodge the Ditch: Experiences Along the Magnolia River

We had been traveling for four hours. Both boats were hitched tight and locked. It was suppertime, so we stopped at a Waffle House in Loxley, AL. Afterwards I stated that we needed to gas the vehicles and then go to Dairy Queen for ice cream.

We pulled up to the Chevron and had barely gotten out of my Blazer when someone rounded the corner yelling that Bebe needed help. We rushed to the other side of the building to discover that he indeed needed help--Bebe had missed the turn and drove right into a ditch!

Bebe had to steer, Uncle Jack was not able and I had a cast on my arm from surgery so that left Lutz and Lawley to push the truck out of the ditch. No way! Four strangers, who couldn't speak English, emerged from the store, saw our predicament and helped to heave the vehicle out. We couldn't communicate other than to share a laugh but the end result was success.

We began the trip with a "runaway boat" and just four hours later a truck was in the ditch! I was really beginning to worry about the chance for success during the next two days of fishing.

The ideal way to journey in life is to dodge the ditch, but when we end up in the ditch we must be willing to let others help us. In our rugged, individualistic society it is often taught that we should "pull ourselves up by our own boot straps," but reality shows us that more often than not, we can't.

When we hit a ditch in life we may find people ready to assist without our having to ask. At other times we must find the strength to ask for help from those nearby.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it shows strength of character and faith in community--where people lend a hand, offer sound advice and offer up a prayer for a friend or stranger in need.

The next time you end up in the ditch, seek those around you for help. The next time you find someone in the ditch, help him or her. And the next time you avoid a ditch, share that experience for someone's benefit. So between now and then, try to live life to its fullest by dodging the ditch!

Choosing Good Leaders

In the November 2011 edition of LeadershipNow, Michael McKinney presents seven attributes of successful candidates for leadership. The research suggests that without all seven, candidates will not succeed.

The opening line of this article really got my attention. It says, "We complain about our leaders. So we get rid of them and we move on to the next one with the hope that it will be different this time." It reminded me of two other statements: "hope is not a strategy" and "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over with the expectation of a different outcome."

The Seven Essential Attributes for Picking Good Leaders:

1. Integrity: Integrity is the fundamental leadership attribute. Integrity is the fundamental attribute that keeps everything else secure. Integrity allows you to assume important characteristics about how things work. As a result it fosters trust which leads to high productivity.
2. Empathy:  Defined as a fundamental ability to tune in to others, it is critical for leadership for many reasons. Combined with integrity, it drives trust. It gives followers a sense that their interests are being looked after, and this creates positive energy. Followers who sense that a leader appreciates them are motivated to carry out their duties in a more committed way.
3. Emotional Intelligence: This is self-mastery or the ability to perceive, control, and improve the connection between what we feel and the way we act. It's about self-awareness.
4. Vision: A frequently abused term, vision starts with imagination and an inquisitive mind. Visionary leaders are good storytellers who are capable of weaving together interesting connections. Vision provides direction.
5. Judgment: Good judgment is good decision making. This sounds simple enough, but the origins of how and why people make the decisions they do are actually quite complex. It's the ability to zero in on what's important, see the whole chessboard, and take decisive action.
6. Courage: There is always conflict. Leadership means being on the front line of those conflicts. It means facing conflicts, mediating and shaping them. Sometimes at the risk of great personal cost or freedom.
7. Passion: A leader's passion or drive is important because it creates positive energy. They attract followers and act as catalysts for the formation of highly motivated teams. High energy and enthusiasm are signs of passion and must be focused on the organization as a whole. It's mission, vision and values.

These seven attributes are the basic building blocks of a leader and other aspects of leadership flow from them. As members of a faith family, we can learn much from such research and commentary. Perhaps if we begin to mandate our church and denominational "Search Committees" to rely less on "good 'ole buddy", "she deserves it", "payback",  and other dysfunctional systems of leader selection, perhaps the Holy Spirit will fill the leadership pool with women and men who will take our communities of faith to newer and greater heights.

For more insight and to read the article at length, go to www.leadershipnow.com

Keep It Hitched: Experiences along the Magnolia River

While serving in Birmingham, AL, each year I looked forward to an annual fishing retreat along the Magnolia River in Baldwin County, AL in search of the elusive spotted trout. The trips were not only fun but every year I got plenty of “fodder” to share with my readers. Today, I have been thinking about those days and my friends. These remembrances brought a smile to my face so I decided to resurrect one of the Magnolia Series I wrote several years ago. Hope you enjoy!

This year’s annual trip to Magnolia River presented a scheduling obstacle as Uncle Jack has now been placed on dialysis, but with a medical facility in the area he has been able to work around our fishing time. Yes, it’s a guys’ trip to fish, laugh, eat and enjoy the fellowship of each other and no “church” talk! The Magnolia Gang met in Leeds, AL to begin the caravan south. Lawley, Lutz, Bebe, Jack and me all loaded up, ready for the journey and laughter to begin.

The first story unfolded before my eyes as we left Bebe’s drive. He and Uncle Jack were in their truck with the boat in tow; they were followed by Lawley, Lutz and Creech in another truck with my boat in tow. No sooner than pulling out of the driveway, the boat trailer disconnected from the truck pulling out of the driveway and went speeding down the street without any guidance or direction. Boat on the loose! Thank goodness Bebe’s truck speed hadn’t climbed to anything other than a crawl. After several hundred yards of uncontrollable traveling, the boat stopped. No damage done, it only stopped the neighborhood traffic and gave everyone a good laugh.

Bebe had hitched the trailer to the truck but didn’t lock it down and check it, hence the loose connection allowed the boat to escape and loose it’s guided direction. I wish I had taken a photo of the look on his face, one of embarrassment and yet laughter. It was priceless!

The Lesson: We must stay connected to the source of life in order to experience abundant living and guided direction. Spiritually, we must stay connected with God on a regular basis. That means checking our connection with Him often to make sure it is secure and tight. Taking our relationship with Him for granted can lead us to become unhitched and run loose. Without direction from the One who makes the abundant journey possible, traveling just becomes a meaningless end unto itself.

Physically, mentally and emotionally we must stay connected with family, friends and coworkers. Staying connected with family keeps our eyes, hearts and minds from wandering away from the very people that should be our priority. Staying connected with friends and coworkers gives us stability, outlets for activities and fellowship with those outside our immediate family and assists us in becoming “whole persons.”

Check your connections—with God, family, friends and coworkers today. Do whatever it takes to “Keep it Hitched!”