Just a few miscelleneous reflections related to leadership as January 2010 comes to an end...
1) The Calgary Flames are in the midst of a horrid seven game losing streak. All the doctors of Alberta could be employed full-time just setting broken ankles from all the Flames fans jumping off the bandwagon! The common theme from hockey experts as well as passionate fans with varying degrees of knowledge or insight seems to be "there's something that needs to be changed among the core group of players." I'm not personally convinced that there is a problem, personality-wise or talent/skill-wise with the core group. Furthermore, I'm also not convinced that any judgments - or decisions about breaking up the core group - should be made on this team until the NHL playoffs are over... though admittedly that does presume the team gets into the playoffs, an assumption that the current losing streak is bringing into suspense.
2) The Patrice Cormier hit and the ensuing suspension delivered by the QMJHL are appropriate. Cormier's hit was late, intentional, and vicious - you could see his elbow come up directly to Michael Tam's head. Credit to Cormier he issued a statement indicating he would not appeal the suspension and accept the punishment (which is pretty significant for a player trying to make an impression on the NHL team that has drafted him). Additionally, credit the NJ Devils for also making a statement that they will uphold the spirit and letter of the suspension (ie. not call him up to their AHL minor league team to play). A player making a stupid choice, being dealt a severe though appropriate punishment, and accepting it like a man. Really, when was the last time that happened? Maybe he wasn't that bad a choice for Canada's World Junior team captain.
3) Haiti Earthquake Disaster and Relief. I've talked with many people who have travelled internationally and they all agree that whatever other country they may have visited (eg. India, Philippines, etc), nothing compared to Haiti. Haiti was a whole other level of poverty, tragedy, lack of health-anything, lack of political-anything, lack of education-anything, and corruption... long before the January 12, 2010 earthquake. The earthquake that seems to have suddenly drawn everyone's attention to this area of the world has just exacerbated an already unbelievably horrific day-to-day existence in this country.
I don't agree with Pat Robertson's assessment that this earthquake was God's judgement on Haiti. Nonetheless, I think the Scripture is clear that when a nation chooses to honour God in their values and decisions, there will be "success." Likewise, when a nation chooses to explicitly exclude God from their life, it should not be surprising when God allows them to reap the results of their desires and choices (again, pre-earthquake the statistics for Haiti on infant mortality, poverty, life expectancy, etc were deplorable). Admittedly, this may not have been the people's desires as much as the will of a few political and dictatorial leaders.
It is amazing how the world has rallied to the support of Haiti... and it is my prayer that as acts of kindness and care are shown to Haitians, they will also hear the Gospel and begin growing a solid foundation for living for this country until Christ comes again. I think it is really cool that our Canadian government has stepped up to match gifts that citizen give to Haiti in such a generous way, even in the midst of our "economic troubles." Organizations like Samaritan's Purse and Haiti Arise are two that I would encourage friends to consider.
No comments:
Post a Comment