During Roundtable, Paul Kaak, is giving inspirational talks based on the book The Comforting Whirlwind.

Paul started by saying that he is a philosopher, so he cannot necessarily evaluate the science behind environmental issues. However, he is interested in what is right and wrong.

Paul said not to take notes, but maybe reflective notes. So these are my reflective notes.

Consider: In what way do you currently interface with ecological realities? For me personally, I’m really interested in toxins and pollutions and how they affect people’s functioning and health.

Hopefully we’ll be able to see some innovative connections between the book, the book of Job, and leadership.

Job is the quintessential sufferer. He is the archetypal righteous, innocent one, who has been tormented, it seems unjustly. Job’s friends give three rounds of speeches that weren’t proper assessments nor appropriate solutions to Job’s problems.

Our society tells us that economic and material growth is good. However, “the amazing expansion of material possessions and consumer convenience may not actually be making us as happy as the advertisers and economists say.”

Consider: Of what are you morally convinced, in light of the ecological concern? What confuses you in terms of mankind’s ecological well being? For me personally, I’m morally convinced that we should be using resources slower! My confusion is around how in the world we can actually make the changes required. It doesn’t seem possible.

We are all ignorant at a certain level. We don’t have all the answers.

Job – even in the burden of his experience, he lived with integrity. Hmm. Must think about this idea more.

Robert Greenleaf. Servant Leadership p. 15 and 25. Read that!

Leaders are historian, contemporary analyst, and prophet. It takes faith to live this way.

Job had foresight. He could see, though he could not explain. Job’s friends did not have foresight. They could explain but they could not see. Too much talk; not enough listening. If you see it, you should say something about it.

A prudent leader notices the evil afar off and does something about it.

Three other cardinal virtues: Justice - committed to the good of the other – earth’s vulnerable people, places, living things; to future generations. Fortitude - the courage to act, even at great personal loss. Temperance – A commitment to tend to the integrity of myself, the condition of my life. To consider the links between my espoused values and my lived values.

Able leaders are usually sharply awake and reasonably disturbed. p. 27-28. Greenleaf.

Ecology – the study of households, dwelling places, habitats. So a prudent ecology starts with YOUR habitat.

Consider. What is reality in and around your life? What should the ideal be? What must be done? What is the household work that you and your family need in order to practice a prudent ecology? Read some of my previous thoughts here.

Wendell Berry is a recommended author. What are you a citizen of? It starts at home. I must care as much for the world as for my household.” Berry. The Long Legged House. p. 76-77. How do I care for the land entrusted to me? Another book by Berry is The Gift of Good Land. Did you know that some of our professors garden? See The Reactor and the Garden. chapter 12 in The Gift of Good Land.