Now when I talk about Competence; it is all about my perception not what other people thought of me. When I was an officer I would never have claimed to be above a sparse average but I felt that I did a good job and performed all the functions that were required of me by God and the Army. Having said that there would have been some who would have despaired of me and I remember someone telling me ‘you will never get on in the Army because you are an agitator’. But despite this comment and others I felt competent at what I was doing; possibly because I was a ‘good’ agitator.Community was a vital component in all of these Golden moments and what I learned in my home Corps from age 11 to when I went to the college was the importance of Community. Even though I could be a bit of a larrikin, this Corps wrapped my in love and acceptance. I can remember on regular occasions arriving at the Open air meeting and doing a big U turn, just to spin the wheels, then get out my trombone and arrive as if nothing was unusual. I was good at being a larrikin but the Corps loved me through it. As I have gone through life I have seen the importance and healing of sad individuals when they find the acceptance of a community that they can be part of. It has for me become one of the most important words in our language and wherever I have been I have tried within the responsibilities I have had to create it in the people around me. It is something that we all crave whether we know it or not.
And finally, Commitment. This is something that we have talked about often in this forum and yet it still is there as a something that has possibly legal ramifications for both sides but in the way I perceive it, it revolves around a commitment to a future ‘something’ that is so much larger than we are. This came to the fore when I thought about the Golden Moment of raising my family, that in a sense goes on to this day, even though there is now another generation, but I am committed to them no matter what that future may hold.
So what does all this memory, good memories, have for my future? In an age when it is really easy to look at mistakes and errors and correct them, or not, as the case maybe, but does seem easier to focus on the negative. One of the reasons so many organisations are stuck in a rut is that they keep trying to get people on the same page so that progress can be made together and much valuable time, energy and resource is spent on trying to correct the negative, whereas other progressive organisations ‘Move with the Movers’.
What has all this self introspection navel gazing meant? For me it has identified why these Golden Moments were Golden and in the future I simply need to put these three things in place and I can have more Golden Moments, almost by default.
I want desperately to be ‘Competent’ in all of the things that I am involved in, be it my employment, my voluntary involvement and in my life, that also means personal issues as well. I simply have to be a competent human being.
I want to be in a ‘Community’ that I love and respect and who also love and respect me as well. That is not all that hard as long as I love and respect them first. Networking 101 has taught me that you should never expect anything unless you have given something first.
I want to be ‘Committed’ to something. Not just for a salary, or an easy life but really committed to making a difference in the world. This can be through a cause, ‘save the whale or the planet’, the future of a relationship, or simply to live a life that will make a difference to the people I have contact with on a daily basis. For many of us this could simply rekindling our covenant in a new place, a new setting, with new people; possibly who need us more than ever.
What does all this mean for me?
Like most of us I have had the ups and downs of officership, former status and just life but this exercise has allowed me to look back at the Golden Moments and have possibly develop a tool to make more golden moments in the future, for me and those around me. I could reverse all this and reproduce all those really bad times, but I am quite sure that the Golden Moments are a better option for me.
What does this mean for you?
I have absolutely no idea. Cyberspace is a great place to hide but it when you look at your life in the bathroom mirror every morning that really counts. You might like to tell us all about it so that we can all celebrate together.
FletchPeter Fletcher
Former
Australia
8 comments:
Well said, Fletch - always find some nuggets worth pondering in your posts.
You shared; "It was Socrates who said that, 'the unexamined life is not worth living' and I sometimes think that he went a little bit over the top for most people but he did have a point". In the centuries since Socrates many have added their own spin to his observation.
I believe it was Kierkegaard who said; 'An unexamined faith is a faith not having'.
I'm grateful to you Fletch and the many others, 'formers' and active officers who consistently provide fodder moving us to examine our faith. It was in doing so that I was convinced to remain a SA officer at a time when an exit was imminent.
Thank you FSAOF for helping us learn, and for providing a balance.
Active officer
USA Eastern Territory
Isn't it funny how in hindsight some of the most difficult times in life become 'blessings' or 'Golden moments' as you call them.
During some of the hardest times in my life I recall frequently singing somewhere deep inside me: 'For when I cannot see, I'll trust, for then I know Thou surely must be still my all in all'. Now, as I look back on those painful times it seems to me that God has taken them and used them to the good. Scripture talks about refiners fire bringing about pure gold.
I would never choose those hard times, wish them on others, or believe that God inflicts them upon us. But seeing God in them with us brings about pure golden moments.
As I sit here and reflect with a cup of peppermint tea. I thank God that there have been far more 'golden moments' without hard times and some of those most golden moments have been in the simplicity of being wrapped up in love and acceptance and the simple joy of 'being' and 'being with'.
Thanks Fletch for sharing some of your golden pearls of wisdom.
Active UKT
One year I read something about how we should keep track of what we do for a day. Everything. The tendency is oft to prepare for bed and think of all that didn't get done. The author said to start with the very first steps of the morning, shower, teeth, making and eating breakfast, doing the dishes, making the bed, walking the dog, etc...and continue thru the day with the things with all things not only those we deem more 'important'.
When I stop for my morning coffee I always have a chat with the checkout person and hope I have left them a little happier as they face a long day on their feet. So I would add, stopped for coffee, chatted with checkout, drove to office, etc. At the end of a day each of us has accomplished pages and pages of things we take for granted. The point of the exercise is - don't take them for granted since they are your day and your day is you. Celebrate all those tasks and routines as a part of the bigger picture of yourself and the part you play in the world around you.
Another author I read suggested keeping a list of anything you do that you have never done before as well as all the wonderful things people say to you in passing that you forget. It would be something to look back on when a dark day swept over. Again, even little things like trying new toothpaste. It doesn’t always have to be “I went skydiving” and for those who are wondering…I did not. Amazingly, that list also morphed into many, many pages as the year went on.
I still have that journal. Some of the wonderful things I heard are from friends now deceased or no longer in my life for various reasons. Some of the new things I did I still do. Some I will never do again. But there is a lot to look back on each time I pick up that book. In fact, I’m feeling inspired to do it again since this is the start of my new year.
I forgot the most important part...THANKS FLETCH...for thinking this all through and reminding me/us of all the golden moments we so easily forget as well as the low spots we pass through so often to get to them. Your insight, as always, inspires me.
Deb, sounds like a blog article in the making...
Blessings, Sven
Thank you as always for a thought provoking article.
I feel compelled to share with tears streaming that my most treasured golden moments in life were when as a SA officer I knelt with a sinner seeking salvation. That's what officership is all about and I pray for all who are still serving.
JTH
Former officer
UK
JTH, Former UK:
Thank you for your response, I am sure that all who have read your response have shared your tears, and in so many places your tears have been added too in a significant manner.
There are no words that can temper this type of pain and it would be trite to address it but take hearft from all your colleagues around the world, formers, actives, retireds and soldiers are all holding you up to our Father, and also thanking him for your ministry then and whatever the future may hold.
Our unique fellowship, I beleive, is simply saying we just love you for being part of the family and feeling the acceptance to be able to share your pain.
Hang in there JTH we are all with you.
Can I just add my 'thanks' fletch for the article. It touched me as well. This is the strength of the fellowship as you said. What a positive way to start the day. All else seems not to matter.
Yours in Christ,
Graeme.
Former Australian East
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