24May16

Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

During a class I was sitting in yesterday Brigadier General Mennes said, "Values determine behavior." He was talking about how what a Commander values will come out in what they do regardless of what their Philosophy is. Words can mean a lot of things and we can have the best of intentions when we write them but, they will never speak louder than the actions that you take. We can say over and over again that we value one thing and prove that we don't care about it at all with the next action that we take. This drives a lot of Soldiers crazy. Especially when the number one thing that a Commander says they value is the Soldier himself and yet they feel entirely disposable. I wonder what you would say you value if you had to list the top five things on there? Is God, your faith, your relationship with the Almighty, on there?

A lot of people say that they value God. In fact a lot of people say that they are Christians. But, values determine behavior and where your treasure is, that's where your heart is. So do you act like you value God or do you just say it because it's the "right" thing to say? Do you give him your time, treasure, talent, and try to live a life like He asks us to or do you really value something else? The class I was sitting in was about creating a positive command climate and as I thought about the leaders I have worked for, in the Army and out, I could nail down one distinctive trait about the ones I would consider toxic... selfishness. They valued themselves above all else and regardless of what they said... their actions proved it. What do you REALLY value?