The best leaders craft vision in a particular way. They draw on virtues that seem to be opposed to each other. On the one hand, they envision inspiring pictures of a preferred future. On the other hand, they confront the most brutal facts of current reality…
Thank you for making 2020 a great year for this site. Special thanks to everyone who shares my writing through their network and social media channels. It is a big help to get the word out there. You can follow me on Instagram here. You…
I wrote last week about how the Pandemic is holding up a mirror for the Church. Before COVID, everyone that was engaged in a parish attended Sunday Mass but not everyone attending was actually engaged. Parishes around the globe are recognizing how many parishioners were…
Most Catholic Dioceses track Sunday Mass attendance. This annual exercise has become discouraging for many Pastoral leaders. Year over year comparisons are tolerable, but the long-term trend is difficult to observe. Some dioceses have remained stable or increased attendance, largely because of immigration, not evangelization.…
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. The start of a new liturgical year. Jesus’ message in the Gospel was simple and pointed, especially to leaders, “Be watchful!” Several years ago, I travelled to Africa. I stayed with a small community of priests at a…
The Catholic Church just celebrated a great feast: Christ, King of the Universe. Christ’s way of leading and influencing was quite the opposite of what people expected in the Messiah. They assumed He would come to save the people Israel as a military giant or political…
I could tell my daughter had a difficult day. It was written all over her face. She shared what was troubling her at the supper table. A friend was being nasty and using unkind words. My daughter has a sensitive heart, so she took it…
The best leaders are consistently humble but never insecure. Insecure leaders lead through the social mirror, fixing their self-worth to the praises and criticisms of others. This kind of approach can be very detrimental. Either the leader will be overwhelmed by an unhealthy emotional roller…
My wife stumbled on The Chosen video series early in the Pandemic shut down. After watching the first episode, she invited me to watch episode two. I did and was immediately hooked. We watched all eight episodes over the course of two evenings. Within a…
Success is about making an impact here and now primarily by what you do and what you accomplish. Significance is about creating a lasting legacy by who you are and the edifying presence you bring to others. I have met many leaders who have accomplished…
The evidence is clear, the world hates Christ. Hates His truth and His Gospel. The world hates His People and His Church. The Church is no longer considered a trusted lighthouse for society. In fact, there are growing numbers of people convinced that the further…
