Michael O’Neill describes a painting by Adolph Menzel that is displayed in a Berlin art gallery. Menzel intended the painting to depict the German king, Frederick, surrounded by his host of generals. With painstaking care he painted all of the generals, leaving the perfect space to insert the king. However, he died before he could complete the project. As O’Neill said, “He left a painting–full of generals but no king.” We all have those people in our lives who are a lot like generals. It may be an overbearing boss or a demanding spouse. It could be a creditor, a team member, or even a spiritual mentor. They are always there with demands and seek immediate compliance. Yet, for many folks, the problem is less about the presence of the generals as it [...]
continue reading this article »