Here is an interesting article on Barak Obama’s campaign. He’s discovering that being above the fray is not always possible. He was set, early in his campaign, on not attacking his opponents and simply staying on his message. He’s discovered that the situation, the culture, if you will, of presidential campaigning doesn’t always allow for that.

Obama is discovering what we all find out about life and work. Sometimes the ideal and the real clash. The point when the two–the real and ideal–clash is not to give up, but determine how we will respond creatively. Life and work and leadership are not as we would always like it. We can do our best and end up asking, “How the heck did we get here?”

What is in our grasp is our response–something Obama–and all of us–have to come to terms with throughout life.