Better ask Benjamin

Better to ask Benjamin.

When you do not know.

You do not know.

I do not know.

How to observe.

Everything.

Would love to learn.

Practice.

Not preach.

About what I have no clue about.

Practice makes perfect.

Or. So I am told.

Let no one stand or sit on the sidelines.

Retirement may not be all it is cracked up to be.

It may be forced. Forced by nature. Forced by nurture.

It may be a person who is a force of nature.

A lie has speed but the truth has endurance.

And to return.

To the scene.

Can be an act of bravery.

Rather than, put our feet up. “Call it a day”. I’m tired. Your turn. Kind of action. When you see something bad happening. Not only say something. Do something. To stop it..to prevent it..from happening.

Call it a call to action. To act. To mend. A real. A good. Long lasting repair. One that seeks to connect the strings and build them into a strong rope. A strong rope that collects and connects.

Opposite of a flimsy piece of tape. Recorded or stripped. The opposite of

A Band Aid.

Short term.

Healing.

The yearn, the yearning to return to a spirit of “normal”. Normalization.

Not extreme.

Not over talkative, no babble or dribble.

Under cutting. Over cutting.

No lost this or lost that.

The Art of wanting the best.

For everyone. Not at the expense of the many for the few or the few for the many.

Good negotiators have a skill. A real skill. A stand the test of time skill. Recognize the benefit of closeness at the pertinent times in the spirit of

Peace.

A Peace that passes understanding.

A Peace or at least honest efforts of peace between members. Of the same tribe, more importantly of not the same tribes. This is not found in the Cliff Notes version of history.

Not critically, racially, or theori-lay. Somewhere along the way, we became too big for our britches, thought we were all that and decided to just

Move.

Leaving Lord knows what behind. Us. Worse off. Not caring. What we left behind. Not good. Not fun. The mess.

We cannot have the treats without the treaty.

Shouldn’t put the cart before the horse.

The B before the A.

The He before the She.

The Her before the He.

The house before the home.

The water before the baby.

Because it makes no rational sense. Whether we like it or not. No matter how much we state our case for owning it, the chair we sit in, the table we sit at. The altar we choose to celebrate in front of or behind.

However. When we walk up to the altar it would behoove us to have reflected and remembered who was there before us, fighting the fight, duking it out. Not to “church hop”. Staying in the muddy trenches, doing the “grunt work” is oftentimes where we learn the most.

It is not glamorous to say the least. But it is most beautiful in its simplest form.

Jealousy, envy can be the killer of all killers. On the global stage. On the stage at the smallest local worshipping center. Conflict, contention, condescension, are all weapons of mass destruction. One way or another. Whether they be delivered mindfully or mindlessly.

Strict scrutiny is in order. Especially if and when things are out of order. The worst things can happen when we are not paying attention to what is important. When did it become so “ok” to criticize the person?

Yes. Criticizing is as old as biblical teachings tell us. As historical fictions presents the argument. The quarrels. The doubts. The decisions. That is why a leader is a leader. Able to stand the tests of time. Be Teflon-like. As well as like-able. Not an easy task. Not an easy under taking. Some leaders are born with “it”. Some leaders fight for “it”. Some leaders hide from “it”. Some leaders take “it” head on.

There is no perfect recipe. Other than the desire for peace. For all. Not at the expense of a few. And if by the grace of God that is how it comes. Than the recognition to “give back” that which you have earned and learned.

Not just a dump.

A dump of information.

The information dump.

To release you of your “guilt”.

There is enough of that to go around.

Guilt. Guilt riding behooves no being.

A leader described as

“Bright, Organized. Strong. Powerful. He knew what he wanted to do and how to get it done.” (Mit)

There are many leaders this sentences may describe. But leaders also know when the closeness of their thinking is what trumps the alternative. The knocking down of peace instead of building it up.

For all. Not few. That you do unto the least of my brothers. You do unto me.

Whether that takes 8 seconds, 8 minutes, 8 hours, 8 days, 8 weeks, 8 years, 80 years, 800 years, 8000 years. A strong leader recognizes the most respectful, humane, humanitarian way to fight for persons.

It is a wonder. A gift. To share. To be able to share. And we are darn glad to have them share their gift with us. The common man. I am ready, willing and able to admit when someone is smarter than me. I am ready, willing and able to admit I want to learn from them. From their thoughts, words and actions. Their wisdom.

Because when I needed the help. Their unselfish nature stood up for me, a million miles away. I did not have to ask. They stepped up. Stood up. And fought. Up. They brought their families with them. Not an easy task. Protection of the highest order while protecting.

Awesome.

Leaders who lead.

Leader who lead the way.

Lead first.

Question later.

With steadfast instinct. Respectfully.

For their fellow man.

Awesome.

The Heart of a Fighter never fails. Weariness knows no bounds. When the lives of our brother and sisters are at stake. Look inward to see what you see. Then act. Accordingly.

Samuel 16:7

Do not consider his appearance of his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at, outward appearance. “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

The Lord looketh on the heart.

Amen.

Hallelujah.

Happy holidays.

And. Only the best of the best to and of the rest.