For the past several weeks, this Blog has been discussing heroes, all kinds of heroes found sometimes in places where you would least expect.  Some of these heroes were very well known; some were hidden in the stories of life doing things that you may never have thought were the work of heroes.  There are several lessons behind these heroes; some faithfully accomplished ordinary tasks under extraordinary conditions, some were incredibly generous, yet they never sought public acclaim, and some took extraordinary risks based upon a faith that they were meant to take that risk and that they would be sustained through the challenges by One who cares and always loves them.

Most heroes and leaders have established a fundamental foundation in their lives, a foundation that I call CHARACTER.  The character that involves faith, courage, perseverance, prayer, honesty, and a vision for what they see as something better for them and those around them.

Years ago, I read a book entitled, ­Be, Know, Do, Leadership the Army Way by General Eric Shinseki, U.S. Army Retired.[i]  I’ve only met General Shinseki once, at an Army-Navy football game (or should it be Navy-Army), but I’ve followed him since that time.  General Shinseki rarely was assigned an easy position of leadership, and things did not always turn out as he would have wished.  He lost part of his foot during combat in Vietnam.  But General Shinseki always exhibited what is foundational in a leader (and most heroes), that is, CHARACTER, the “BE” of leadership.

For the next several months this Blog will discuss the character of true leaders and the lessons of faith, prayer, and leadership.  Because Blogs are generally short, the full narrative behind these lessons will be best learned best from my book, Growing and Building, Faith, Prayer, and Leadership that you can purchase from this web site. You may want to have your copy, personally signed by me.  Let’s enjoy the next few months of this Blog together.  Oh, one more thing, CHARACTER– an issue of the heart, so the question becomes, “What is in your heart, and where is your heart anchored?”

[i] Shinseki, Eric K., Be, Know, Do, Leadership the Army Way, Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint, San Francisco, 2004.