“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
-Martin Luther King Jr. (Norway, 1964)
Sometimes what is right doesn’t win. This is why, as a leader especially in non-profit settings, it can be discouraging to try to make change.
The summer approaching my senior year in high school I began an internship at a local Christian non-profit in my area called Orphan Helpers. This tiny non-profit began through a local real-estate salesman and pulled its support mostly from wealthy patrons in the Virginia peninsula. It struggled monthly with finding the funding it needed to pay staff, help the kids, and increase awareness. Many times, Roma, the event coordinator I worked with, would throw up her hands in frustration over the vast need that Orphan Helpers was struggling to provide for.
In these moments of frustration, I was able to remind the staff of their ultimate mission and to show them the bigger picture of the work they were doing-be it grant-writing, or sending letters. As a fresh, young face in the office I was able to provide a bit of energy and excitement when the going got tough.
In the end though, I do believe that right with triumph. What are ways, as leaders, that we are called to help in the frustrating time between evil’s reign and right’s conquer?
October 17th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
As you leader, you always have to be focused on the mission and the value system placed on the action you are taken. If this is unclear than you will become very frustrated and the adversary will triumphant. These two action items are vital to making sure others are feeling the same way you are.