When I wrote the book in 2004 I was in a funk. I was constantly running into the wall of apathy, cowardess, dysfunction and simple lack of character and backbone. Three years later I continue to experience a shocking lacking, a void, in the world around me. Some of you may find that statement hard to believe. Many of my friends say, "Come on, Dale! You're in Washington, D.C. You work with the U.S. Congress and opinion leaders. Surely you must see the best of humanity?" Sadly enough, I must say I do not.
Sure, I meet interesting and powerful people. I meet lawmakers, public policy wonks, think-tankers, religious leaders, thought provokers--people you see each week on CNN and Fox News--and the people who serve them all the time. What I rarely meet--and by rare I mean like four leaf clover, unicorn, leprechaun, pot of gold, free money rare!--are servant leaders. People who walk their talk. Heck, people who don't talk and just do!
Servant leaders--selfless leaders--are, as my Grandmother French would say, "Scarce as hen's teeth." As I wrote in my book, Great Big Small Things, our culture is in dire need of an overhaul. We still have faith, just not in God or our neighbors or our so-called leaders. We've put our faith in dangerous and dubious things. And we've gotten our priorities--the things for which we live and work and strive--out of whack. I believe we must refocus our priorities. But, no politician is going to do that for us. We must, each and every one, do it in our own lives first.
Why do we worship at the altar of celebrity? What life lessons--things that help you grow and prosper and be a better person--have you learned from Britney Spears or 50 Cent or anyone of the cast of the Sopranos? Yet, we give them money. We gawk and faint when we see them. We give our time to them to read about Britney's new haircut or Anna Nicole Smith's grave. Now, think of the lessons you learned from your family, or a teacher or coach, or a business mentor or priest or reverend or rabbi or mullah. How much time have you given to them? How many monuments have you lobbied for and how much money have you given to their completion?
Fred Selfe was a man-- a simple assistant football coach at a small college in rural Virginia--who cared about others. He sacrificed for them. He worked for them. He taught them through his actions. He picked them up when they fell and he knocked them down when they needed it. He built houses, shoveled snow, paid tuitions, swept floors and polished door knobs, did the laundry, and took time from his own life to give from his heart to all those around him. And these people have done the same for others--millions of others! He did this without ever asking for anything in return.
Nothing!
Since his death in 2004, that's almost what he got. The former (thank the Lord that is the condition) president of Emory and Henry College, Dr. Thomas Morris, did NOTHING to honor a man who was everything the small, liberal arts school claims to be. In fact, he thwarted every effort to honor the man who touched the lives of millions of people.
A new president, Dr. Rosalind Reichard, is seated at the college and has the opportunity to right this grave and egregious wrong. I recently enjoyed a warm and informative dinner with Dr. Reichard and her husband (also Dr. Reichard) here in Washington. I sat with other alums: Major Warner, Pat Houghton, John Bolton and Grove Teates, and to my surprise, each, in turn, pleaded the same: Please honor Fred Selfe. To even greater surprise, Dr. Reichard announced her intent to build a new football stadium with artificial turf and name it for Coach Selfe. I almost broke into tears as she outlined the plans for the new complex. I could only imagine Coach Selfe standing there swatting his hat against his leg grunting, "Gosh dandy, bullfrog!" and walking away.
So, welcome to the leadership in a new America exchange site. As this blog progresses I want to focus on the leadership traits exemplified by Fred Selfe. I want to start an open and frank discussion of how each of us can change the world in great big small ways. Please join me and add value here then take away the ideas to use in your own home, neighborhood, town, city and state.
BE Fred Selfe!
