Leadership to Emulate

(Update: I posted this not long after the invasion. While I stand by my beliefs that his actions at the moment were admirable. Some concerning pre-invasion actions (to put it mildly) of the Ukrainian government have come to light since that time. Despite that, the underlying theme of this post still stands.)

I believe that it is safe to say that all of us have been horrified by what is occurring in Ukraine. Many Americans have seen the devastation of war, me included, but we have never seen it on the streets of our own hometown. What they are experiencing is a horror that is unfathomable to us.

In all of the horror and evil of war however, sometimes we can see aspects of the human spirit that are truly inspirational.

In this war, there have been many inspiring things. But the one thing that has most inspired the world is the David and Goliath story of this man, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, and his stance against the world's latest tyrant, the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy put the protection of his country and his people over his own life and has defined for the world what a leader should be. He even refused to withdraw when the battle was at his doorstep and was offered a chance to flee; instead, he requested ammunition to fight.

I pray that we never need to see this level of leadership in our country. However, even if we are not facing a life and death situation, we still need to expect that our political leaders, who swear an oath to serve others, will put the needs of those they serve above their own and will do so even if it is at their own peril.

I continue to pray for President Zelenskyy and all of the Ukrainian people. I also pray that when this conflict is over, and he goes forward as the leader of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy will continue to inspire the world with morals that match his bravery. And, for our leaders; that they have the strength and wisdom to do what will bring peace to our world and end the suffering in Ukraine.

God bless us all.

- Kevin