We\u2019ve spoken often here of the perceived societal digression \u2014 an increase in crime, an erosion of values, and even the encouragement of division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somewhere embedded amidst that decline is this confounded notion that the admission of error equates to weakness. Let me state my opinion strongly: this couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In one of my current roles, I have the sweet responsibility to oversee leadership development for a very talented group of young professionals, many in the early stages of careers in ministry. We are creative, intentional and consistent in investing in these current and no doubt future leaders. They are exceptional and have much to give, with great futures in front of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week we had an in depth, extensive conversation on the need to actually work on our leadership, as being a leader isn\u2019t something you just are;<\/em> it\u2019s something you root, plant, water and grow; you prune it. You work on it. You never just arrive, so-to-speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We encourage and model the principles of integrity, kindness, faithfulness, and more. Honesty is part of the more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wise people are honest people. And honest people aren\u2019t just honest about our successes; we\u2019re honest about our failures, too. In fact, in last week\u2019s conversation we actually spoke about the need<\/em> to fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us be clear: failure is an opportunity.<\/em> It\u2019s an opportunity for all that rooting and planting and watering and growing. It builds resilience in self and makes us relatable to others. Hence, admission of our mistakes is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But somehow we as a society have missed this idea. We have equated any admission of failure with weakness, thereby missing out on the available resilience and relatability. This is especially true in our politics, as for some reason, all sides of the proverbial aisle have been somehow seduced into adopting governing, legislating, and public relations strategies which don\u2019t allow for any admission of error. Democrats and Republicans are each cringe-worthy guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continuing with the cringe-worthy, note one of last week\u2019s more notable gaffes (and let\u2019s face it; the two most recent presidents have given us a lot <\/em>of material)\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pres. Biden was speaking at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and was acknowledging the bipartisan group of lawmakers who came together to make a difference in this area. He then attempted to acknowledge Indiana\u2019s Rep. Jackie Walorski. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJackie, are you here? Where\u2019s Jackie? I think she wasn\u2019t going to be here \u2014 to help make this a reality,\u201d said the President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only problem is that Rep. Walorski died in a car accident at the beginning of August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s be grace givers, friends; we all make mistakes. But it wasn\u2019t the gaffe that was the problem; it was the response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about the President\u2019s obvious mistake that morning, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre actually defended the gaffe, suggesting that Biden \u201cwas naming the congressional champions on this issue and was acknowledging her incredible work\u201d and that the deceased congresswoman \u201cwas of top of mind for the President,\u201d which is not \u201cunusual to have someone top of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stunned by Jean-Pierre\u2019s defense, multiple, varied politically-leaning media members tried to help her make it make at least a little more sense, asking if it was a teleprompter error. Jean-Pierre didn\u2019t budge\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n She refused to give any ammunition to any admission of error by the President, even though it was obvious Pres. Biden had forgotten that Rep. Walorski passed away. It no doubt would have been a far wiser, more tactful approach to simply say, \u201cThe President made a mistake. He apologizes to the family.\u201d The conversation would then be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But let us not justify any lack of extension of grace to the White House Office of the Press Secretary. The reality is that politics are downstream from society, and society no longer sees an admission of failure or fault for the opportunity that it actually is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As author Roy T. Bennett penned, \u201cIt takes guts and humility to admit mistakes. Admitting we\u2019re wrong is courage, not weakness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That goes for us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019ve spoken often here of the perceived societal digression \u2014 an increase in crime, an erosion of values, and even the encouragement of division. Somewhere embedded amidst that decline is this confounded notion that the admission of error equates to weakness. Let me state my opinion strongly: this couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. In … <\/p>\n