Bold

There is something wonderful about a pragmatist.  You never need question a position, view, or opinion.  A pragmatist tends to lay it out clearly for any and everyone.  There is little ambiguity.  Often, his or her decisions are timely and clear.  Communication often errs on the side of being direct and brief.  Whatever follows, there is little question of where things stand and the direction that they are headed in.
I wish the world had more pragmatists.
Having struggled in a world beset by individuals wanting to get along while making perfect decisions, I long for the clarity that comes with pragmatists.  Consider the possibilities.  A yes would actually mean yes.  A decision would become a trusted commitment that one could act on with confidence.  Disagreements would occur when they were relevant instead of the moment with no chance of aligning everyone's efforts. 
As I look at great leaders across the generations, I find myself admiring pragmatists.  Some were idealists that pragmatically knew how to strike their path in their generation's chaos.  Others had were leaders committed to a defined set of principles, values, and ideals.  I would have loved to say that I was part of their team.  I find myself longing to tell religious leaders that had betrayed their calling, of the facts.  I wish I could remind them how “the God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross.”  (Acts 5.30) 
Even as I muse of the past, I realize the there are opportunities to take a stand in the moments at hand.  There is no mandate in your life or mine that we are forced to go along with the crowd.  We are no bound by a commitment to shape our lives with the world's values and priorities.  Nothing holds us back from acting with compassion and acceptance.  We do not need to worry about the big things in life.  It is in the small decisions that we tell our story, to others as well as to our souls.  Bold moves can define today.