TGIF
“Modesty”!
“Integrity”!
“Self Control”!
“Perseverance” !
“Indomitable spirit, SIR”!
Those were the “five tenets” of our martial arts studio, the five character traits that the kids were to to develop from their training and the modeling of those traits from the “master”.
The kids did pretty well in doing so.
They embraced the disciplines and many became champions in the ring and better people out of it.
Much money and more time was invested in continuing to develop the character that is necessary to succeed in sports and in the world.
They believed in the tenets because they trusted in the one who spoke them.
Unfortunately the “master”… his “perseverance” and “indomitable spirit” having been taxed by financial issues, gathered his equipment in the middle of the night and closed the studio during the holiday break.
The kids were denied a last meeting, no goodbye to him or their teammates…just a note on Facebook saying it was over was the reward for their trust.
The kids were devastated.
They had been hurt by a trusted leader who spouted great virtues, but in the end did not live what he demanded of them.
If the story were to end there it’s a sad story indeed.
The virtues expounded are true virtues despite the actions of the one who taught them.
We are regathered the team last night and we will go forward through the efforts of the whole group.
We will each contribute our own individual talents and resources to the whole and each one of us will be needed to do so.
We will model the virtues we were paying another to teach.
We have chosen new leaders….but those leaders are there to serve, not to profit.
They are willing to do so out of love for the group.
We didn’t lose a leader, the leader lost a great team.
We still believe…
Make your own application…
“We didn’t lose a leader, the leader lost a great team.
We still believe…”
Amen!
I know for a personal fact, that sometimes leaders are not in a position to admit their frailties to those who follow and admire them…..who would believe them?
That it can be very difficult for someone in that unbalanced position of ‘leadership’ to live up to their own expectations or risk ‘failing’ ie: being human in front of the group of followers who partly perpetrated the myth of the leader’s strengths….. and other artificial things.
Sometimes, the only way ‘out’ is to disappear.
A “goodbye’ or explanation would go a long way towards healing and generating understanding….. but sometimes leaders just plain crack and have not one more drop of strength to offer that explanation or face the disappointment in the eyes of those who followed…..
Paige,
That may have been the case here…
What Paige said… particularly if the guy’s business just went belly up. His perseverance might have been heroic, causing him to keep the doors open longer that was wise.
Or maybe he was just a jerk, but we haven’t heard his side of the story. All I know us that he stepped up to the plate and took a swing, which is more than most are willing to do.
this brings back sooo many painful memories…….home and church
I’m glad you guys are rallying. I’ll pray for sure.
So glad that you had a group of parents who were willing to step up and be creative. Hoping for you all that a solution works out.
What a lesson for those kids, though…and a lesson in grace for leaders. Even the best leaders, the ones we want the most to succeed…even they are frail.
Trust God…….all others are are on probation.
What Sarah said…”What a lesson for those kids, though…and a lesson in grace for leaders. Even the best leaders, the ones we want the most to succeed…even they are frail.”
It’s good preparation for disappointment in spiritual leaders while clinging closely to Jesus.
Interesting I have often lived my life in modesty, I wont go into what I was told basically I an a perversion and God’s wrath follows me.
“Modesty”!
“Integrity”!
That is just stupid integrity is totally irrelevant and I get that.
“Self Control”!
We can’t control ourselves we are Jeffrey Dahmer wantabe we all want to commit some type of vile understanding.
“Perseverance” !
God will not persevere you if you cant produce you are lost and God hates you. I get that. I get God cant persevere anyone no matter what happens, God will preserve those that are worthy of that.
“Indomitable spirit, SIR”!
There is no hope and we are all doomed from the cheap seats. I find that rather silly but it is what it is.
The translation I would give my soul to this creed because I have seen it. But from the evangelical standpoint we are all basically lost. I find that strange, I always have.
Building lease, utilities, liability insurance and other overhead cost can add up if one has no discipline in ones finances. There are a lot of ministers who have sneaked out in the dark of night. Leaving behind the disillusioned ones.
How awesome is it that we, the Church, are built upon the Rock that can’t be moved. A sure foundation. One who will never leave us nor forsake us. Who will always be with us. One who is His Word. Solid words we can live by and put our trust in.
No greater love has anyone then to lay down his life for another. This He has done for us…
Sorry to find out Sensi lacked integrity. Reminds me of the old saying, ” I can’t hear what your saying, your life speaks louder then your words…”
Shame on Sensi for holding up the standard to live by and not ending well. His story is repeated often.
It’s sad that the guy couldn’t just come clean that the business was failing. Didn’t the proud code of the disciplines include humility and being forthright? The warrior, above all, must be noble, yes?
Gman,
In business and the church, humility is not considered a virtue anymore.
Thus, the shape that the church and economy are in…
When was humility a business principle? Did Paul say, “buy my tents. They’re just ok.”?
The right kind of pride is a business essential. You don’t have to say, “I’m the best”, but you must have the confidence to say, “please examine my work”, knowing that scrutiny is your friend.
Jim,
I was thinking more about how we exhibit humility ethically and relationally.
I’m learning much from you on the walking the line between being narcissistic and promoting your work.
Hardest thing in the world for me to do…and I’ve missed opportunities because of it.