Today’s post is by guest writer Keith Ward.
Movies and TV series have been made about Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the WWII ace in the Pacific, think “Baa, Baa Black Sheep.” I read the book before it was popular. One thing that stuck in my mind is a vignette about teaching. He related that he happened to mention that as he was constantly rotating his head looking for enemy planes, he would shut one eye and hold up his thumb the right distance from his face to blot the sun so he could see planes that might be coming from that direction. [We all know that the Red Baron ambushes Snoopy from the concealment of the sun.] It was a revolutionary idea to the pilots he was teaching. He had almost not said it because it was so obvious to him that it seemed to be a waste of time. This little trick spread and saved many lives, but he thought of those who died because he did not think to say it sooner.
In my work, I implement this by spreading new policies or labor saving ideas that I have discovered. I find that some knew and had not bothered to tell anyone else. Why? Others did not know and are grateful for the advice, but never tell anyone else. Why?
Paul said, “I am debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.” He had grace that belonged to others. So do we. Saving grace. If we keep it, we have kept the property of another which is a crime under law.
One need not be a great personal worker or speaker. He just needs to feel the debt. To weep for all those who have already died because he did not think to speak the thing that might have saved them. Then, he needs to return that which is not his, that which belongs to them in the first place, the grace of God.
Keith Ward
Movies and TV series have been made about Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the WWII ace in the Pacific, think “Baa, Baa Black Sheep.” I read the book before it was popular. One thing that stuck in my mind is a vignette about teaching. He related that he happened to mention that as he was constantly rotating his head looking for enemy planes, he would shut one eye and hold up his thumb the right distance from his face to blot the sun so he could see planes that might be coming from that direction. [We all know that the Red Baron ambushes Snoopy from the concealment of the sun.] It was a revolutionary idea to the pilots he was teaching. He had almost not said it because it was so obvious to him that it seemed to be a waste of time. This little trick spread and saved many lives, but he thought of those who died because he did not think to say it sooner.
In my work, I implement this by spreading new policies or labor saving ideas that I have discovered. I find that some knew and had not bothered to tell anyone else. Why? Others did not know and are grateful for the advice, but never tell anyone else. Why?
Paul said, “I am debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.” He had grace that belonged to others. So do we. Saving grace. If we keep it, we have kept the property of another which is a crime under law.
One need not be a great personal worker or speaker. He just needs to feel the debt. To weep for all those who have already died because he did not think to speak the thing that might have saved them. Then, he needs to return that which is not his, that which belongs to them in the first place, the grace of God.
Keith Ward
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