Wise leadership

I was reminded of Proverbs 11:14 - Without wise leadership a nation falls. I sat for a minute, almost in tears thinking how much we can see that in our time right now.

You see, there is a huge difference between being smart, and being wise. I have no doubt that several of those in leadership on our city and school board are smart.  Most probably have degrees from respected universities. I don't doubt their abilities to add 1 + 1, or to be able to read the documentation that is sit in front of them for their review.

What I have a problem with is that they don't seem to know what it is they have.  They can't see that their actions, or as often as not, their in-actions have a resounding effect on things other than the simple answer right in front of them. Need an example?

Smart is seeing that the road by Ft. Wahl street needs repairs, and makes repairs.  Wise is understanding that 1/2 of our tax payer dollar vehicles drive on Ft. Wahl street, and when it's barely passable because of the potholes, then not only haven't we taken care of the tax payers with basic working functional roads, but we've caused our city vehicles to be damaged which will cost use more tax payer money to fix.  So in the end, there will be more roads NOT repaired, and more vehicles torn up because instead of fixing the road correct the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, heck who am I kidding, the dang road has NEVER been fixed right in the time I've lived here in Gonzales. And yet the maintenance department wants a new truck because theirs is torn up. *Slapping forehead* A wise person would have seen that one coming.

Our school board wonders why our kids have problems with discipline in school. A smart person makes rules for the kids to abide by. A wise person makes and enforces evenly and equitably the rules. For example, Warior Path is a one way street from Sarah DeWitt to Sedlyer.  So why is it that it takes a phone call from a parent to complain to get the Principal and one of the Vice Principals to quit driving in the wrong way? Wonder why the kids won't follow the rules? It's because their leadership are showing the kids that rules are not to be followed.

A smart person knows how to work the system.  How to cheat the people out of their right to a fair election.  A wise person understands that the division such actions create in a community are irreversible, and are dangerous to our society.  They cause distrust amongst the citizens of the community that will take years and years to overcome.

A smart person knows they've done wrong.  A wise person understands how important it is to fuss up and do what's right for the community.

Look, there is not a person in political power that never makes a mistake.  It happens.  I but the bottom line is a wise person learns from those mistakes, makes amends, and corrects their actions.

By the way, I could go on and on and on about things that are smart, and things that are wise, but I'm wise enough to know I've gotten my point across. :-)

Till Friday!

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser