Beware Of Impostors

Episode 18:  Dear Dad…Again

Hawkeye:      Be off the base in 24 hours, and never…repeat: 

              never touch a patient again without a licence.   

              And contact me the minute you get one.  You’re a 

              damn good surgeon.

Capt Casey:   On the level?

Hawkeye:     Next to you, Frank Burns is an alterations lady.  I 

             gotta ask you one question.

Capt Casey:  “Why?”  Well, I’ve passed myself off as a teacher, 

             a lawyer, an engineer.  I can do it all.  I just    

             never had the patience to go through it by the 

             numbers.  I guess I never had the drive to get 

             the diploma, the permit, whatever.

Hawkeye:     Try it once.  You’ll be great Casey.

Hawkeye writes another letter home to his dad describing the boredom experience during the lull in the war.  A new doctor arrives in camp that turns out to be an impostor, with a history of passing himself off as a doctor, teacher, engineer, lawyer and leaves the 4077 as a chaplain.

In the Bible the Apostle Paul warns Timothy to beware of imposters who are deceiving and being deceived and urges him to continue in what he has become convinced of from sound teachers (2 Timothy 3:13-14).  We live in a world that promotes confusing and conflicting ideologies about life and leadership.  As leaders we must learn how to discern truth and discover principles that are applicable to those we lead.  We must also be able to test what we are being taught and be careful not to blindly follow popular opinion or be bound by political correctness.  I have found reading widely and seeking wisdom from trusted leaders helps me to develop a discerning mind.

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!