Penstemons

Penstemons are a straight stalked plant that makes some very pretty flowers. The flowers come in a variety of colors (the ones we have range from a light pink to the deeper red pictured above) and are common in many regions.

When they aren't flowering, they can look (to the uninformed) a bit like a plant that may not belong in the yard. Some refer to such a plant as a weed.

This is what happened to me when I was asked to go out to weed the yard some time ago. All these green things were growing. Some belonged, some did not. Not knowing which was which, I gleefully tossed weeds about like the reaper felling his wheat or a Gatling gun mowing down rows of bloodthirsty savages.

That was when I learned what Penstemons were.

Sometimes we try to get rid of weeds, but we can, if we are not careful, get rid of the flowers too, in our attempt to clean up the yard.

Artistic

Hail to the Artist!
The author, the poet, the painter and such
The musician, the sculptor,  the singer
that moves us so much.

Hail to you dreamers!
May your ilk never fade.
As you inspire with pen, brush and note
And remind us all with the lands that you've made;

That the place we are in,
With its troubles, it's pressures, it's rush and its din
Is not the only place we will ever be
And is not the only place we've been.

Emotions of Leadership

Here's something good to know, if you are in any sort of leadership role:

When leaders come into the room, they will always evoke one of only two emotions. They will either bring fear or they will bring joy.

While some leaders like having their troops and charges fear them, it doesn't hurt to remember that if people fear you they will hide things from you. Their ideas, observations, insights, facts and circumstances will not be shared freely with you.

So, which emotion comes with you and your leadership?


- The two emotions are adapted from an idea I heard from Perry Noble, to quote my source.