Alertness is the third character of leadership, being alert is a state of your mind, and your spirit. To be alert means that your ready for action, that your able to pay attention, and be aware of what’s around you. Do you have the discipline to be wide awake, and understand the environment around you ? An individual that serves as a leader is self less in their actions, and thoughts. They care enough about happening with others to make the appropriate decision ! The bible several references on being alert, in 1 Peter 5:8 it says “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” It’s warning to be serious, be alert to the danger of the enemy. The Dolphin is a great example of being alert.

Dolphins are some very intelligent creatures. They have the unique ability to be “watchful”, another way to express being alert. Dolphins have to come up periodically for air, so they must be on the lookout for potential predators. That takes some really incredible focus. Dolphins can overcome sleep deprived, and at the same time be ready for action because their brains can rest one half at a time. 1 Peter 1:13 also says the same: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. One of the lessons that I learned from being in the US Army was that we often had training, our leaders made sure that thier teams were ready to do anything !

We should aspire to be as detailed to the concept of being alert, like dolphins we should always be paying attention to what is going on around us. The lack of situational awareness is one of the major reasons why I believe individuals struggle to be effective leaders. If you are focusing only on your own priorities, then you will miss the needs of others in your life. Here is another scripture reference to tie it all together. Luke 12:35- 37 “Stay dressed for action[a] and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants[b] whom the master finds awake when he comes”. Are you ready for action ?

The dolphin is actually cited as being one of the second most intelligent beings on earth after ourselves. Incredibly their social skills, behavior, and self awareness are much like that of humans abilities. Basically the size of their brain in relation to their size of their body, they have large brains. Dolphins are able to “see” what’s going on around them because a superpower called echolocation. Dolphins have this amazing ability like sonar, and they use it to connect with other dolphins. They know about everything about what’s around them. Dolphins can adapt to change easily, and they ae ready to act when something happens. Dolphins are not caught by surprise, and I think they are probably some deep thinkers ! Dolphins have something in their called the limbic system brain, which helps them to make important decisions much like humans can !

I learned during my time with the US Army to adapt to change quickly while being very alert to what was going on. Soldiers were trained constantly in case something dangerous happened. The bible says “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Mark 13:33-37. Are you able to “stay awake” Is your mind, body, and soul ready to tackle the tasks Christ gave you? All you have to do is pray, ask for his help, and he will.