Brenda’s Blog – July 12, 2016
“Leaders are not Litterers”
The billboard in Semmes, AL promoted a clean environment. A Baptist with a love for alliteration must have developed the campaign!
I started thinking about the sentiment. Other than picking up casually tossed candy wrappers, and correctly depositing empty soda cans, what is it about leadership that creates a non-litterer?
Then, I started down my usual rabbit trails. What kinds of litter do leaders clean up? How about mental junk? “Garbage in, garbage out” is an axiom leaders learn well. The well-disciplined mind keeps unworthy distractions at bay.
How about time wasters? Strong leaders know how to use bits of time to their advantage and eliminate the little time grabbers that beg for five minutes and end up taking thirty. Stewardship of time, as well as treasure, is important.
Then I thought about the expectations of others which put demands on our lives. How often we find ourselves littered with “shoulds and woulds” that are not ours at all – but belong to others. This trash hangs around us bogging us down and often keeping us from winning the race.
Finally, I thought about the wasted emotions of bitterness, unforgiveness, and jealousy. How foolish to clutter our minds and hearts with senseless and unhealthy emotions. How can we run free with baggage from the past hanging from arms and legs?
This exercise got me into Mobile where I immediately got lost (again), so my attention was diverted to finding Interstate 10. The next time I am through Semmes I will notice the immaculate streets and rejoice in the leadership quotient of that lovely town.