Good morning Gentle Reader. This morning I am going to invite you to ‘Consider’ [Consider = to think carefully about; to contemplate; to consider]. A few days ago I was perusing several of my journals and as I was doing so I thought of inviting you to ‘Consider.’ My intention is not to convert you nor to convince you. My goal is to ‘Invite You to Consider.’ I also invite you develop, or continue to develop, your own ‘Considerations.’ Here, then, are some of mine.
CONSIDER: If I want to understand the other I must first look deeply into my own heart, mind and soul with an intention of understanding myself first.
CONSIDER: The world I see clearly today has already been distorted by my unconscious mental processes.
CONSIDER: I do not perceive the world as it is for I am influenced by my self-serving biases.
CONSIDER: One of the tests of integrity is its refusal to be compromised… Remember: Integrity does not put food on the table and the Truth will not make you rich – However, both will make you free.
CONSIDER: ‘Leadership’ is a by-product of the relationship between the ‘leader’ and the ‘led.’
CONSIDER: ‘Influence’ is the capacity to use inquiry rooted in integrity, over-time, in order to allow the others to emerge and emotionally own their own thoughts, decisions, and actions and thus to choose to be unconditionally, response-able, responsible and accountable.
CONSIDER: For thousands of years the great thinkers, mystics, philosophers, teachers and spiritual guides have reminded us – continue to remind us – that there are ‘Three Cs’ that Count: Consciousness Counts, Character Counts & Conduct Counts.
TWO CONSIDERATIONS: (1)…enlightenment occurs in small moments, many times…these moments tend to come in the midst of what we think of as our failures and crushing disappointments… (2)…the purpose of our presence here is being attentive, being willing to go on ‘seeing’ and keeping our hearts open – not just for our sake but for the sake of others – Remember Mary Oliver’s counsel: ‘If the doors of my heart ever close, I am as good as dead!’
CONSIDER: This ‘Identity’ and ‘Life-Purpose’ Question: ‘If there was no praise or criticism in the world, then who would I be?’
CONSIDER: ‘Developmental Inquiry.’ It involves the art of engaging another by asking questions from a place of not-knowing, of developing a relationship rooted in curiosity, interest and belief in the other as a fully human being.
CONSIDER: The importance of my assumptions, attributions, attitudes and of my choosing to be awake, aware, attentive and of my being a reflective-participant-observer of my own life.
CONSIDER: My ‘cup’ has to be empty in order to hold something. ‘Surety’ = a full cup and ‘Doubt’ = a cup that is emptied and refilled over and over and over.
CONSIDER: Thales (640-546 B.C.). When Greece named its Seven Wise Men, Thales (the ‘Sage’/’Wise’ – ‘Sophos’ in Greek) was listed first. Three Questions offered to Thales and his Responses. Q-1: What is very difficult? R-1: To Know Thyself; Q-2: What is very easy? R-2: To Give Advice; Q-3: What is God? R-3: That which has neither beginning nor end. (ASIDE: CONSIDER – ‘Sophomore’ means ‘Wise-Fool’ in Greek).
CONSIDER: The educator kindles the flame – the oil is already in the lamp.
Searcher-Seeker 