This week a group from our church took a day trip to the Greenbrier Resort to see fall colors.

We planned months ago to leave Charleston at 8:30 AM on Amtrak riding to White Sulphur Springs arriving at noon and have lunch. Each person or couple could choose whatever they wanted to do like: Visit shops. Walk around the grounds. Do the Bunker Tour or relax and read.

We planned to catch Amtrak back leaving White Sulphur Springs at 5:05PM, returning to Charleston by 8:30 PM. Many in our group had not ridden a train for years and were looking forward to the train ride.

At midnight on the day of the trip, I received a notice our train had mechanical issues and was still in Chicago. It would be at least 6 hours late! If we rode the train, we would miss our 5:05 PM return train. It was too late to text everyone. Lynnda and I decided to meet as planned at 7:15 a.m. and let the group decide.

The group was disappointed. Almost the entire group was seniors. Most were women. We have a few members who tend to be negative people. To my surprise there was no overwhelming negativity and little emotion as everyone discussed the problem and our options. We could cancel and reschedule. We could cancel and get our money back. We could wait and ride the train to a closer station like Hinton, WV enjoying the scenery and catch the return train back. The focus was on the problem. No time was wasted complaining about something we had no control over. We took control of our response.

In a short period of time everyone agreed. All had arrived at the train station by car and the drivers were willing to drive to the Greenbrier. We arrived two hours sooner than we would have by train if it had been on time. With the extra time one group took a carriage ride they couldn’t have normally done.

Everyone found fun ways to fill the extra time. We left at 5:30 and were home before 8 PM. It was an awesome day and turned out better than the original plan. The only disappoint was we didn’t get a train ride. The full refund of our train fare allows us to plan another train trip in probably December. If we book now we can travel at a lower price than our fare for this trip. We can have a train trip and extra money to spend.

There is a place for emotion and passion but not in problem solving. Our church group put emotion aside and worked together to solve the problem. The result was everyone had a great time with friends and will have a bonus train trip. Others who missed this trip may attend.

Currently our federal government is shutdown. Both sides are passionate about their reasons why.

As far as I know Congress is still getting paid for not doing their job. My oldest son and one of my grandsons are still doing their government jobs every day. Like many other government workers, they are not getting paid. What is wrong with this picture? Benjamin Franklin lamenting the conflict between the 13 American Colonies and Great Britain said in 1775, “Passion governs, and she never governs wisely.” Passion and emotion don’t solve problems.

Lynnda and I never argue. We learned long ago it is pointless. There are no winners to an argument. If you win the argument and lose a friend or a spouse everyone loses. Lynnda and I discuss differences. Far less emotion and no passion. We listen to each other, treat each other with respect and never bring up past issues. Our relationship is paramount. We find ways to resolve our differences and learn how each other feels. Occasionally we agree to disagree. When things deteriorate to shouting neither party is listening. Finding common ground or an agreeable solution in a shouting match is impossible. On TV if two people start talking over each other or shouting in a political discussion, I change the channel. It is a waste of my time to watch two fools in a shouting match. I can’t hear what either is saying. Neither will change the others mind.

Passion and emotion in government make finding effective real solutions difficult. Sadly, many decisions are made based on emotion and passion rather than fact. Passion “never governs wisely”. Emotion and passion have nothing to do with logic and truth.

Passion is important because it can motivate. When I speak to a large group of people or give a halftime talk as a coach, I’m passionate about my message. I want my players or the audience to know they can be successful. They need to know I believe in them. My passion tells them I’m serious. Passion isn’t enough. It can’t solve a problem. The head coach tells our players tactically what they need to do to succeed. My role is to get into their heads and build their belief. To convince them it is possible.

Martin Luther King Jr. motivated millions with his “I have a dream speech”. The speech didn’t solve the problem. It was the actions people took following the speech that made a difference. Passion is dangerous in government when it lacks common sense and is based on lies, half-truths or bad science. Like shutting down baseload coal power plants then adding EVs and AI to the grid.

Passion is good in a love relationship but isn’t the foundation for a relationship like marriage. Common values, common goals, mutual respect and trust are needed for successful long-term relationships.

Our church group put emotion aside, using facts to find a solution everyone was thrilled with. There was a common goal. Local, state and federal governments can do the same thing. Passion is fine for relationships, motivating teams and suggesting goals, not governing. Effective solutions require common sense, facts, and sound science.

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing and sales for Shale Crescent USA, www.shalecrescentusa.com. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering and over 40 years’ experience in the energy industry. He is a professional speaker and author of four books and numerous published articles.