Don’t Step on a Green Shoot
Sometimes a negative example goads us best. Years ago we
invited a pastor to fly to Chicago and spend some time talking about
articles he had written for Leadership. We were impressed with his
contributions and wanted to encourage him to develop more.
During our time at lunch, we complimented him on his work;
he grew sober. “Before these Leadershiparticles, I hadn’t written
anything for many, many years,” he said.
“Why?”
“I felt I had nothing whatever to offer.”
We said that was clearly not the case, and he told us his story.
As a young man he had written something and, with great antic-
ipation, had sent it to a well-known pastor and writer. When he
found a reply in his mail, he eagerly opened it. Instead of encour-
agement, however, he read a curt reply saying he had no talent
and should not waste his time writing.
“I was stunned and for all these years haven’t written another
thing.”
We were stunned too. Perhaps his youthful, initial efforts were
shallow, but that didn’t justify squelching a hopeful young man.
With an impatient, quick note, this erudite but at times “crusty”
theologian blew a chance to, if not encourage, help him put his
efforts into perspective.
When we are “established,” we sometimes don’t realize the
power we have, and the impact of our smallest action.
Harry Truman didn’t make that mistake. He understood the
weight of his words. Once, as he took questions from an audi-
ence, he had to respond negatively to a high school boy. After the
meeting was over, he had the Secret Service bring the boy to him
to reassure him. Truman said he hadn’t
wanted that boy to go through his life
with the reputation that he had been
put down by the president of the United
States.
Truman understood that his feet could be like giant boots
crushing green shoots. We, in turn, may not be president, but
Sowing Seeds in All SeasonsWhen we are out of sympathy
with the young, then I think
our work in this world is over.
GEORGE MACDONALD