Thoughts on Leadership

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I had an epiphany on Sunday. We were sitting in church and it was time for the service to begin. The organ started playing and the congregation began to sing. We didn’t sound too bad but I at least didn’t feel comfortable. The chorister wasn’t there. I have sung in other churches that don’t use choristers and I have the same feeling. I need guidance.

Then from out of the congregation, a volunteer walked to the front and by the second verse we had a chorister. I felt a quiet change in the congregation’s singing. We sounded more assured, more of a unit. We had a leader.

I think many of us human beings like to think someone is in charge. It gives us a feeling of direction.

What should you do if you’re a leader and one of your subordinates place you in a moral dilemma? Should you stay true to your values, or go along with the crowd?

What is your responsibility to your group as a leader?

As we look at the upcoming elections, what are we looking for in the offered leadership? Vote your conscience, but VOTE!

The Church's twelfth article of faith states, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

A Caring Community: Goodness in Action

By Elder Alexander B. Morrison

Of the Seveny

From an address to the Utah League of Cities and Towns on 21 January 1998.

A Caring Community:

“How our world would be transformed if the vast reservoir of goodness in individuals could somehow be focused and harnessed for the uplift and betterment of society as a whole. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu has said, “Somehow the world is hungry for goodness and recognizes it when it sees it. … There’s something in all of us that hungers after the good and true” (quoted in Parade magazine, 11 Jan. 1998). I agree: goodness is the attribute most needed and longed for not only in our individual lives but also in families, communities, states, and nations.

If we are to effectively foster and utilize the great goodness of the people around us, we must strengthen both our families and our communities. The family is without question the God-given primary vehicle for the development and expression of personal goodness. But we also live in communities. One dictionary defines community as “a body of people having common organizations or interests, or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations.” People are by nature social beings whose lives and feelings are eternally connected and intertwined with those of others. Almost invariably, individuals reach their full potential only in association and in community with others.

These words of John Adams, the second president of the United States, ring with special force: “Our Constitution was designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other” (Reply to the Massachusetts Militia, 11 Oct. 1789).

Some other thoughts on leadership.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Peter F. Drucker

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.

Dwight Eisenhower

A leader is a dealer in hope.

Napoleon Bonaparte

The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.

Elaine Agather

I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? 
Benjamin Disraeli

It's beginning

I’m dreaming

Of September morn--

Cool breezes tossing

Daisy Petals across the fields and lawns

--Children running happily towards

The first day of school

--Birds lining up in rows on telephone wires

Getting ready for take off

--The smell of ocean water lingers

Remembering small footprints on its sands.

--Vacation time waning

--The excitement of new things to learn

--Old friends to greet

--My favorite time of year

--And plaid

A BASKET OF ROSES

I spread the “Basket of Roses” quilt on the little table on the terrace, set the cup of mint tea on top and sat looking out into the orchard. I needed to plant some roses. The terrace was simple and bare with just  an inch deep sheet of pea gravel that was suppose to keep the weeds down. Well it wasn’t working. Some of the weeds were three feet high and would surely become trees if I didn’t do something soon. I love gardens. I think I inherited the love and enjoyment from Mom. She was always out in the garden, even in her later years. I helped Dad plant petunias and impatiens, watered the tomatoes and strawberries. But roses were a favorite.

My first rose was from a boy down the street. I don’t know who’s garden he picked it from, but I loved that deep coral miniature rose, all four inches of it. I would have to find one and plant in my garden.

My dad’s favorite was always the Peace rose. It has large full blossoms of creamy white with touches of yellow and pink. In his later years he also enjoyed the Chicago  Peace which had darker  tones of pink. I always planted one of those wherever I moved.

America, a salmon colored climber had grown outside my bedroom window. I think this was my mom’s favorite rose. No other rose I had flowered for so long or grew to greater heights. I need one of those.

I planted an apricot tea rose under the bathroom window in my last house. It was the color of the roses we got for Mom’s funeral with purple iris…

A black eared squirrel ran along the roof line, eyed the Juniper bush at the corner of the house and dived in. The bush trembled, was silent, and trembled again at the assault. Tipsily the squirrel crawled out and staggered off into the orchard. I wonder if he thought that he could fly?

I took a sip of my mint tea as I returned to contemplating plans for my garden. I wonder if Lara is having a cup of tea this evening. We decided to share a cup every once in awhile even though we are a world apart. I hope she has found a beautiful oriental garden to explore. Humm, I think I’ll plant oriental poppies.

Down by the creek I could hear a thrashing sound. I stood and looked through the orchard trying to identify the intruder. Soon I saw Bucky trotting through the field ahead of the neighbor’s old hound.  The burro down the street was always getting out and running down to the water. He’d stare at the fish in confusion. I don’t know what he was thinking. Were they edible? Can I walk across?  Shrugging he’d take a drink , nibble  ditch grass for lunch, and spend a pleasant hour flicking flies in the shade till ol’ hound came to chase him home.

I saw a  flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye. A family of rabbits hopped along the edge of the irrigation ditch. Momma rabbit was sneaking her family towards the garden, looking for something tender to eat. I had a surprise for her this year as I hadn’t planted anything yet. Next year I’d be the surprised one. It’s a good thing rabbits don’t climb trees. I wonder if rabbits eat apples?

A shadow passed overhead. Looking up I saw a red tail hawk hunting for his own dinner. Momma rabbit saw him too and hustled her little family into the deep ditch grass, which hadn’t been mowed yet. I could almost hear her whisper,”don’t move, shhh”. I held my breath till the hawk moved on towards the river and a more visible

meal.

I took a sip of my cooling tea. I have moved forward, left behind tender feelings for the friends I made as I moved around the world. Some have remained in contact. Others have not. I would love to know where Susi is, and Pauline. How are Judy’s kids and Pats? I need Nasturtiums for my California friend’s remembrances. I don’t think the ‘Naked Ladies’ or Bird of Paradise will grow here in the high desert. I can grow geraniums for Carol, Picasso petunias for Debbie. I need an Azalea for Virginia. No I need a chocolate plant for Virginia…. Chocolate lace, chocolate candy geranium,

Maybe I could plant Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’. Where can I find these? They would grow in our freeze zone and parched conditions but….

The day is cooling as the evening approaches. I’ll need my sweater soon. I sit thinking of Isabella. My ghost hasn’t been here for a while. But then neither have I.

I wonder what Isabella planted in her garden, Sage? Thyme? Rosemary? Sunflowers?

A garden is a wonderful thing to grow to remember old friends. What shall I plant in my memory garden for you, Old Friend?

Gifts

In her book God's Guest List, Author Debbie Macomber tells a story she heard many years ago. A Woman died and went to Heaven. She met with many friends and then was taken on a tour of Heaven. She wanted to see every corner. She came to one building ,which had a gold padlock on the door. “I want to see what is in this building,”  she said.

 “Oh that’s not open to the public. There’s nothing in there you want or need.” Her guide replied.

“But I want to see every inch of Heaven.” She complained. So the doors were unlocked and she went inside. There were piles of beautifully wrapped presents from floor to ceiling. “Are these for somebody? Will they be taken to them?”

“No they aren’t for anyone.” He said.

Spying her name on one pile of gifts, she demanded to know why she wasn’t given them.

“We did take them to you,” said her guide, “but you wouldn’t accept them”.

 How many God given gifts may we have lost because we didn’t look for them or accept them when they were offered?

The Book, God’s Guest List tells the reader that God can send people into our lives for a reason. And if we are looking for them as a gift they can enrich our lives in ways we can’t imagine.

Have you ever met someone with whom you have an instant report? It feels like you have known them forever!

 Have you had a stranger come up to you and give you a message that changes your life? Or stops you from something that would hurt you?

Have you had a feeling of wanting to learn something but didn’t try? Maybe it was an opportunity you shouldn’t have turned down—a gift you haven’t unwrapped.

Have you ever been that gift to someone else?

You who are reading this, I consider to be  on my guest list from God and I thank you.

In Alma 26;3 we read …."And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God" …

Appreciate those who love you, Help those who need you, forgive those who hurt you, Forget those who leave you.

  Unknown quote

The Zinnia

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The Zinnia

The zinnia stretched her root

Deep under the cement block

Wedged her leaves between bricks,

And turned to look for God,

Her creator.

With fertile ground inches away

She had landed in the cracks.

Asked to bloom in adversity.

Why? She pleaded, why?

Because I love you so.

I will make you strong.

Joy in Serving

It’s July, and as hot as well, hot as a day in July. I wonder if we could fry eggs on the sidewalk. I heard that expression many times when I was a child and always wanted to try it. My mom wouldn’t let us. Besides wasting an egg it would make an awful mess to clean up.

I think my mom was one of the most influential women in my life. I say one of because I remember things that my Grandmother told me, see the way my sister lives; remember things different teachers have taught and even now hear things my daughter tells me that are having a great effect on my life. What a unique opportunity we women have to influence those around us. Two of the women I met here in Virginia that have had a profound influence on my life have left this week to start new lives on the other side of the world.  I miss them, but I know they will meet and love and be loved by the new sisters they get to know and teach. 

I belong to a woman’s organization, which has had great meaning in my life. Wherever I move, whatever crises erupt in my life, I know I can call for help and empathy  from another woman, a sister, to guide me, to teach me, to comfort me.

This is the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have become my friends, my family away from home.

Boyd K. Packer wrote about Relief society,” This great circle of sisters will be a protection for each of you and for your families. The Relief society might be likened to a refuge—the place of safety and protection—the sanctuary of ancient times you will be safe within it. It encircles each sister like a protecting wall.”

In the book, Daughters In My Kingdom, I read about a young woman, Bobbie who moved with her family from the United States to Taiwan for six months. Even in this short time, her Taiwanese sisters encircled her in the protective influence of Relief Society. A terrible earthquake shook the country with its epicenter near her home. Within hours the Relief Society president arrived on her bike to make sure Bobbie’s family was all right, and then went to visit each of the other sisters in her ward.

I have felt this security and refuge. I have appreciated it. It has made my life a little easier. I am grateful to the Relief Society president who took my two year old son every day for two hours so I could take care of my ill husband; the one who came and got my ironing when I was in bed with a difficult pregnancy; the one who took me to her quilting group when I was in mourning; the ones who encouraged me in my writing; and the one who helped me to go to the temple by taking me. We have a new president now. I hope you have a chance to get to know her. She’s terrific and just in case—she rides a bike.

What opportunities do you have to serve and nurture those around you?

What women have had an influence in your life.

Hope you are having a lovely summer and that the heat isn’t getting to you.

I'm So Proud!

I got a package today in the mail that made me laugh. It’s nice to have something to laugh about on a hot and steamy day. The first laugh was because the sender’s name was the same one as someone I used to know. The package was from a different Sandy, but it brought back memories of sitting on the porch in the summertime watching the world go by, children playing noisily in the front yard, dogs barking, bees humming. Neighbors walking by, waved and shouted hello. Life was uncomplicated. We were younger then.

The second laugh came when I opened the package and looked at the assortment of quilt blocks. I was excited when I won them on e-bay. I think it’s fun to take things  someone else  had made, and then discarded and change them into a beautiful work of art.. But it can some days be a challenge! I looked at several of the blocks and thought, “What were they thinking? Why would they choose those combination of colors and fabrics?” Other blocks said, “What pattern is that? I don’t know that one.I bet they made it up!"

My third laugh came upon examining the workmanship. No wonder they sold these. The seams don’t match. The edges are crooked. No two blocks are the same size. And selvedges weren’t trimmed. In fact, the blocks looked a lot like the ones I made. How easy it is to be more critical of other’s work than we are of our own. I had to laugh at myself this time.

 What a great tool this would be for teaching a quilting class. “Things Not To Do And Why;” or “Some Color Choices Have More Impact Than Others.” Many times, when I take a quilt class, the teacher shows all her beautiful and perfect quilts. I could never compete with them.

I remember going to the Cocaran Gallery in Washington DC one summer when one of my favorite fabric designers had a show of some of her quilts. Being the only one in the room at the time I examined each quilt closely and read all of the displays and literature about the exhibit. A guard came into the room and proceeded to talk to me about the quilts. He told me things, which were different from what I had just read about the exhibit. I argued and explained that he was wrong, and why. Later, I was out on the bench behind a potted plant, waiting for a ride to come when there was a changing of the guard. The new guy asked, “how’s it going?” The old guy said, “It’s been quiet. But”, he whispered, “watch out for her, she’s a quilter.”