Stirring empty pots

My Pen Mates,

Frugal by nature, I am into this green thing that's everyone's catchphrase nowadays. Reduce, reuse, recycle are practices now made more hip with some media blitz, but I'm glad everyone's being made more aware of these things. While I don't have a "global" perspective on the issue (I consider it more a self-help type of attitude), I certainly want it incorporated as a best-practices social mind set. If it permeates all social demographics, then wise use of resources will lead to less waste.

On another subject, this volunteer mantra that's become familiar about contributing "Time, Talent, and Treasure" is kinda kitschy to me. My church will not be too pleased, but really, alliterative solicitations is like beating one's head with the Good Book. It's great for program promotion, but a little heavy on the guilt.

Which brings me to a major pet peeve: the fast-start-to-fade, concept-to-nothing initiatives of immature dreamers. Ones success in one discipline does not necessarily translate to another; many fail to manage their ego and all they manage to do is start a fire and end up stirring empty pots. I'm tired because I'm old. I have long since lost patience with start-and-stop promoters who not only loose steam half-way through a project, but actually draw the interest of others only to veer aimlessly after launch. The young can afford to indulge in this tomfoolery; when adults repeatedly regress to it, it's utterly pathetic.

It is not my intention to condemn, just to express disapproval. A leader stays the course or readily gives up the helm once recognizing that a different leadership is more effective. Pride of authorship need not equate to right of possession because it leads to disillusion and we as a community have already seen too many of that. Self-labeled leaders all too often get caught up with an idea with no clear program of execution. That's fine as long as they are smart enough to surround themselves with producers and doers. But how many times have this scenario played out and they end up employing enablers and carpet-baggers who work without imagination or a real appreciation of the goal? It leaves a foul taste in the mouth just thinking of it because the results are never satisfactory, the concepts become caricatures, and time is lost.

Never start a fire without having anything to cook; it's a waste of resources, waste of time, and perhaps worst of all-- loss of hope of ever alleviating hunger.

Mon