“The Foundational and Learning Phases are the most basic of Leadership Education. Each is vital and they must come in the right order- Core, the Love of Learning, Scholar then Depth. …Each of the phases is important; but the Foundational Phases do come first, and they continue to animate the whole process and set the tone for later successes or failures.” Leadership Education, Oliver and Rachel DeMille, page 32, emphasis mine.

As I stated previously, I spent Thursday to Sunday of this past week in the Seattle area.

I haven’t been “home” in five years.

I spent all of my childhood from the ages of 6 to 21 living in the Pacific Northwest.

And what a great childhood it was.

I would like to tell you that it was perfect…

without pain, conflict or controversy of any kind…

but that would be the most dishonest of deceptions.

I think that people seeking a true leadership education tend to struggle already…

The bar is set so high, and the expectation level is fraught with Pollyanna-type illusions.

I needn’t fuel a fire that is often self-started…

and successfully maintained at a smoldering level in many over achieving individuals.

What my childhood entailed,

definitely falls into an unusually high, above- average category.

I am, and always will be eternally grateful for this.

It defined, and continues to define, the individual that I am today.

You hear a tremendous amount about the Scholar phase in Leadership Education…

as if it is a rite of passage of sorts.

A destination.

An end result.

And yet, the true foundation and point of reference for who you are and what you become

is defined in the Core phase of your life.

At times, this truth can seem backwards.

Like a mistake.

Puzzling.

It is my hope that every individual reading this

will come to welcome and embrace the realization

that one of the greatest paradoxes of Leadership Education is this…

The phase that gets the least accolades, attention and recognition most of the time

is undoubtedly the most meaningful and important.

I hope that this infuses every tired parent and mentor with energy…

Fortitude.

Courage.

The time that you are putting in…

that goes seemingly unnoticed…

day after day, week after week and year after year…

MATTERS MOST.

These realities were physically reinforced when I received the text on December 29th from my closest childhood friend…

my dearest cohort in Core and Love of Learning Phases…

that her father was minutes from passing away.

There was never even a question on my end of this news,

as to whether or not I would need to be there on January 16, 2010.

Family and friends would gather together to pay their respects to this man…

an individual who was a stellar representation of faithfulness and steadfast devotion to God and family…

to principles and ethics that this country was founded and made great upon.

I entered this sleepy little community 40 years ago…

as a “Snot-nosed, city loving, superior-to-farm-life-feeling pastor’s kid.”

I returned last week as a “Gratitude-filled, mother-of-five, peace-brought-by-rural-living-loving, best friend.”

What brings about this kind of transformation?

Life.

It’s celebrations…

Tragedies…

Seemingly mundane daily events…

and the personal influence of people that are woven throughout.

In the midst of it all…

are the principles, foundations, and reinforced messages that we call “Core.”

They are delivered most powerfully by associations with family and friends.

Insignificant?…

Hardly.

Life changing?

Always.

I hope you’re watching and guarding this phase of education and ultimately, life…

very closely.

It’s vital.

Important.

Sacred.

Hopefully, as I continue this story, through sharing

and ordinary personal example…

You’ll be challenged to revisit and reevaluate the profound influence of one of Core phases most

influential components…

the association with

and influence of others.

Tune in Friday for: “The Pastor’s Kid” Meets the “Perky Paradox”…

How 11 Years in a Country Church Shaped and Continues to Enhance My Life.