This week, I had the honor to attend the Missouri Governor's Leadership Forum on Faith and Values in Jefferson City, Missouri. The forum, held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel mere blocks from the Missouri Capitol building, dealt with the philosophies of Jesus the Nazareth used in leadership. We had a very busy three days exploring the capitol and learning how to open up to ourselves and others. I learned a lot this weekend - more than I could ever share in an Odyssey article, but I'd like to share with you some of the highlights of our week.
1. "You don't question your neighbor's theology when his house is on fire." Pastor Garris was the key note speaker at the Missouri Governor's Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning. I was prepared to be bored by a sermon about "loving thy neighbor" and "crossing party lines," but what Pastor Garris gave us was much more moving and influential. Instead of preaching about the importance of Christianity, Pastor Garris spoke to us about the importance of civil and loving disagreeance. He spoke of how giving and tolerant and loving you can be of your neighbor even if they are of a different faith. You're not here to prove them wrong; you're here to lead like Jesus the Nazareth, by being a friend and a giving hand.
2. "What got you here won't get you there." Missouri Representative Allen Green taught us a lot about Missouri Government, but also about humility and being grounded. Green talked to us about how we should chase any dream we have, but make sure we do it in the right way, and don't think that you don't have to continue to work hard to achieve those dreams. Green waited 30 years to have his chance in the Missouri House, but he's definitely taking the reins and getting things done. He proved to us that your younger years don't have to be your most successful, and that hard work is always worth it.
3. "F*ck ISIS." a local business owner and proud Muslim taught us about how important it is to put away stereotypes about groups of people and find common ground with them. He told us how he successfully started a business, beat cancer, and kept up a marriage with a Baptist wife while coaching a boys' soccer league, but was incredibly humble about it. His secret was his perseverance and involvement with the community around him. This man was one of the most inspiring humans I've ever met. His dreams weren't to be president or to conquer the world, but to run his coffee shop and have a family. They weren't big to some, but they meant a lot to him and he was successful and happy in them. He elaborated that it had been hard for him, since so many people assume he was a terrorist as a Muslim, and explained that it was imperative that we don't label groups of many based on the actions of a few.
I learned so much more this weekend, but it would fill pages and pages to tell you everything, and I don't want to seem too long-winded. I strongly encourage you to look into this forum and forums like these to attend in the future. It was an amazing experience, and I learned so much about myself and my leadership skills that I would go back in a heartbeat.
