GreatRidge Station

We have a favorite restaurant (no website, but a map and review). It is wonderful, authentic, and some of the people there have become our friends. Bad news, though–last time we were there they had a sign on the door that said:

Beginning on Sept 2, we will be close for remodelations

The sign was delightful. I love taking pictures of odd signage, but I didn’t take a shot of this one. These are my friends, and I didn’t want to offend.

Part of my job as an educator (here) is grading papers, correcting grammar, and helping people to communicate clearly. Just so you know, I did not mark the sign wrong or put any proofreading marks on it. This points out an important leadership lesson: When we care about someone, we don’t correct them for things that don’t matter. It’s a restaurant, for pete’s sake, not a news bureau. It’s the food and service inside that matter, and not the grammar on the sign at the door. Give people grace on the little stuff, and you earn the credibility to address the big issues of life.

It is important for leaders to know when to let go, and when an issue needs to be addressed. Those can be generally narrowed to a couple of key areas: Core competencies (the things that are part of one’s role and responsibility), Character (the deep down issues of values, beliefs, and convictions, and how those are lived out), and Belonging (do the quality of one’s relationships integrate or alienate a person from his or her community/neighborhood/workplace, in other words, don’t be a jerk).

I tell my students that there are leadership lessons everywhere. Even at my favorite restaurant.
As for us, we can hardly wait until the remodelations are done.

A hectic few days.

Spent most of the time working on stuff for one of my main gigs.  Finished final grades for a summer class. Had two meetings with colleagues. Made fresh salsa (as much Jalapeno as tomato–sun-grown, really hot jalapenos, at that).

I’ll have more to say about leadership tomorrow. Right now, there is a patio chair with my name (and imprint) on it.

I had an opportunity to spend time with some good friends last night. The gathering was because a dear friend, an elderly gentleman (the father of one of the aforementioned good friends) was in town.

Years ago, he told me that he always wrote under the psuedonym “Ebenezer.”

Chuck Dickens ruined that name and redefined it–you all know the story. Ebenezer, in fact, is an Old Testament word meaning “Rock of Help.” It was not a person’s name at all, but a place-name that commemorated God’s faithfulness.

Now in his 80s, my friend Ebenezer is a testimony to God’s unwavering character, compassion, and holiness. He has walked with the Lord Jesus Christ for so many years that his character has been shaped by that ongoing encounter with the Living God. Ebenezer demonstrates through his life that God really is the only reliable rock of help–and Ebenezer has become that same kind of help and encouragement to others.

I will always be grateful for my friend Nelson Roetter and his family. Like this dear brother, may I always seek the true Ebenezer and may I become more and more like Him.