Why Lead?

I must admit that one year ago today when I received the e-mail that I had been nominated for the greenhouse I was blown away.  Sure I had held leadership titles, commissions, ordinations, whatever, but I always and still see myself as a plugger trying to build a better world. This was a year of self-reflection and renewal. Yup my own personal reformation, for this work started for me when I was 8 years old when my elementary school challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to disarm, and it became a more localized human rights work when I was 15 years old and the first child sex trade pad was busted in my local pizza parlour so me and my friends started working with the original street teams, to 12 years ago this coming January 8, 2012 when I became associated with the Mustard Seed.

 

     It was a simple belief that following the love of Christ meant working for equality and inclusion in this world.  As I walked and talked with people from the Royal Canadian Legion and Veterans Affairs I realized that part of the renewal this year was seeing the same passions emerge within my own children. My son, Leland, who at 5 ½ years old and experiences life with Cerebral Palsy. According to the experts was never to leave a hospital bed and have a 1% quality of life, can now take 25 steps unassisted and anyone that meets him has stated that it is like meeting the love of God on earth, he’s my Preacher_boi that challenges me to continue in this world of inclusion, he wants to be a preacher. My princess, Justina who at four years old astounds her teachers with her imagination, but when a new person enters her class room she boldly walks up to them and says “Hi I’m Justina, let’s play you’re my new best friend”. My little ambassador.

 

     This year with the Greenhouse has allowed me to focus in on my personal leadership understandings and styles and to grow. I thank my peers and leaders for thinking I am a leader, and know that my personal vision of just making my own corner of this world a better place is my true calling as evidenced in my children’s actions.

 

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