Acknowledge the street sweeper!

One of the qualities that every person, no matter their station in life, wants is to be acknowledged.

In China, professors, students, faculty, and staff often walk to move around campus. As they walk, many mornings they will encounter a street sweeper. Street sweepers pedal a small dump truck trike and use a giant bamboo broom and shovel to clean the campus streets. They’re often dusty and smelly. Many faculty, staff, and students will often ignore these street sweepers, walk around them, or avoid them all together; sometimes with disdain.

A college professor was known on her particular campus for her kind demeanor. Every day, this teacher would greet students, faculty, and staff on her way to her class. She took Philippians 2:3 to heart and practiced it daily. One day, this teacher had guests from abroad and she invited these guests to visit one of her classes. This teacher met her guests at the front gate of their school and walked them to the classroom building. While on the way to class, this teacher made it a point to introduce her guests to people along the way, including the street sweeper.

We will all encounter individuals, families, whole communities, and even live in different countries that want to be acknowledged. All people want to be acknowledged. Acknowledging others displays what is in our heart. While most people will ignore those that do not look like them, act like them, talk like them, or avoid someone they find uninviting, N~Leadership is treating everyone with dignity and respect. Remember this week to acknowledge those around you; especially the street sweeper!