Shade Tree Wisdom 5/23/08

Woke up this morning and checked the time. The clock was dark. ”Mmm” said I to self, “Did it finally die?” Then I tried the light next to the bed and found that the power was off. So the first thing was to call the company, and they were working to restore the power. OK. So I got dressed and went for the morning walk since it was already quite light. Quiet, and the only lights were those gas lights people use in their front yards.

And, thanks be to God, just as I stepped into the house again the power came on. So life settled to normal, only I now have the chore of resetting all the electronics. But the computer showed the correct time, as did the clock we have on the wall. I have to wind it every 30 days or so. But it works.

The news is, of course, mostly sad. They predict a ‘busy’ hurricane, and talk about a major earthquake soon in southern California. Politicians are still busy posturing, and leadership seems to be in short supply.

A leader teaches, informs, shows the way, and does what is best for the whole. A politician of this day follows the polls and says, “What do the people want”. The people will always want what suits them. The people are hardly ever concerned for the long view or the best of the whole.

Take, for an example, the Junto of Burma. Rather than allowing their people to get a taste of what life can be, they say, “Just send us the money. We’ll take care of it”. So they’d rather see millions suffer and die rather than lose their grip on power.

I think of these stirring words by almost forgotten poet Josiah Holland.

God, give us men!

GOD, give us men! A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.
Josiah Gilbert Holland

GPD 5/23/08