On Pursuing Leadership

To reach the summit

For which you have aspired for so long,

What did you give? 

What did you take?

What did you give away? 

What did you retain as valuable to you? 

Do you still have self-respect? 

Do you have respect for others? 

Do. you want to serve all or only some? 

Have you been driven by hatred? 

Have you been motivated by love or fellowship? 

Have you sought to sow division or to overcome it? 

Have you approach disagreement with even an ounce of doubt? 

Have you placed power over principle? 

Have you, in seeking the control that you have craved, lost control? 

Is authority an end in itself to you, or does it carry with it, in your perspective, 

Solemn responsibility? 

When they challenge you, will you take a stand 

Or will you capitulate and crumble? 

Are there still tenets of leadership for you that are yet to be defended

Or have they disappeared 

In your climb 

To the summit? 

History will remember

We will watch and remember

Every step of your journey

All that came before 

All that is happening in the here and now

And all that will follow. 

And who, ultimately, 

Will tell

Your story?