Don't Panic

Episode 45:  Crisis

Hawkeye:    What’s the idea of the gun, Frank?

Frank:      It’s classic.  The enemy cuts off your supply lines, you get cold and hungry, then they go right for your soft underbelly.  That’s why the rifle fella.

Trapper:    Just like you to panic, Frank.

Frank:      Who’s panicking?

Hawkeye:   Well, do you see anybody else pressing the soft-underbelly button?

When the supply lines are cut to the 4077, the officers rally to respond to the crisis by taking on rationing responsibilities, putting the camp under extra stress while they try to function on limited supplies.  The crisis brings out the best and worst in the personnel under the difficult conditions.

Having worked in Christchurch as part of the earthquake recovery team I witnessed some amazing displays of resilience by people who lost most of their possessions during this disaster.  The crisis brought out a variety of responses from people who were under stress and were experiencing significant personal loss.  There were those who rose up and overcame adversity and others who were overcome by their circumstances.  Leadership expert John Maxwell explains how “one of the major keys to success is to keep moving forward on the journey, making the best of the detours and interruptions, turning adversity into advantage.”  Adversity is unavoidable and crisis is inevitable in the unpredictability of life.  Panic usually results from being crippled by crisis, when you are unable to see a way through, whereas, resilience comes as a result of persevering through crisis because you hold fast to the belief that there is a way through. 

Overcoming Temptation

Episode 8:  Cowboy

Hawkeye:   [reading Cowboy’s letter from home] “Dear John.  Sometimes when you’re away from someone you thought you loved you find yourself tested by being tempted.  That’s what has happened to me.  Dear, dear John.  I was tempted, and I didn’t want to write until I knew whether I’d pass the test.  If I say I love you more than ever, will it tell you how I did?  And that I’m completely worthy of the most wonderful guy in the world.”

Helicopter pilot “Cowboy” is awaiting a letter from his wife while laid up at the 4077^th with a shoulder wound.  Concerned that she might be cheating on him and angered by Colonel Blake’s refusal to send him home to deal with his domestic issues, Cowboy tries to blow Henry up and takes him on a kamikaze helicopter ride.  The letter arrives and disaster is averted when Cowboy receives the news he is hoping for.

Leaders often find themselves in vulnerable situations where they are faced with a variety of temptations.  As people in a position of trust we must be aware of our weaknesses, put appropriate boundaries in place and develop accountable relationships.  While this may be sound advice, there is another dimension to fighting temptation.  I was recently confronted with the uncomfortable truth that I cannot be tempted by what I don’t desire. Therefore, the key to overcoming temptation is to submit my desires to Jesus Christ and allow His Spirit to renew my mind, for “those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).

The Battle is Not Mine

Episode 3:  Requiem for a Lightweight

Hawkeye:   What does mean mean, mean means nothing. It’s skill that counts. Big and mean has nothing to do with fighting ability.

Trapper gets conned into competing in an inter-camp boxing match as a favour to Henry Blake, to win back a nurse who is being transferred out. When the boxer from the opposing camp arrives the 4077 doctors are intimidated by his size and reputation.

As leaders we are often confronted by various forms of opposition that can seem overwhelming and intimidating at first appearances.  One doesn’t have to stand in a boxing ring to feel like you are going a couple of rounds with a sparring partner.  The kinds of fights confronting leaders are usually in the form of criticism, conflicting agendas, personality clashes, or unrealistic expectations.  These battles that seem so overwhelming at first can be right sized when given a bit of perspective:  “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam 17:47), “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zech 4:6), “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Eph 6:12).  As a Christian leader I have the knowledge that the battle is not mine and that God’s wisdom and strength empowers me to overcome!