Weddings, Family, and Culture
This past Labor Day weekend, my niece was married at the Cascade Lodge at the base of Mount Norquay in Banff National Park. The ceremony, in the heart of the Rockies, reflected the beauty, elegance, and grace that Sarah radiates in her life. Being a part of this magnificent event caused me to reflect on the value of family, traditions, rights of passages, and culture. As I witnessed the fruits of many years of focused investment of time and energy, I realized that families, like any culture, don’t respond well to quick fixes or heavy-handed solutions. I gained new admiration for my brother and sister-in-law for their commitment to family trough more than thirty-six years together.
Parenting, like any leadership role, is akin to being a gardener. It’s more about “growing” than about legislating, controlling, motivating, or coercing. No plants ever grow better because you demand that they do so or because you threaten them. Plants grow only when they have the right conditions and are given proper care. Creating the space and providing the proper nourishment for plants – and people as well – is a matter of continual investigation and vigilance.