Dr. Mike Colson is an active
duty Command Chaplain at NAS
Whidbey Island in support of
CONVAQWING and Patrol Wing 10,
who are actively involved in
the War on Terrorism. With PhD's
in psychology and human services,
he is the Navy's guru on "self
care" and "getting a life."
As a chaplain he is an advocate,
and offers support for servicemembers'
mental and emotional well-being.
Chaplain Colson has been married
for 27 years, has two almost
grown sons, and lives on Camano
Island in Washington's Puget
Sound. He takes his own boat
to work every day, has an active
international crisis intervention
and public speaking schedule,
and is slated to return to Iraq
and Afghanistan in the very
near future. He describes himself
as a "Military Chaplain - with
strength of character, words
of encouragement, and a face
made for radio!" His third and
most recent book, "In Irons
- Sailing Into the Wind for
Life's Sake," is a collection
of humorous vignettes from the
world around us. Other books
include "Accelerating Your Own
Life" and 'The Paradox of Underachievement,"
available from mikecolson.com.
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December 16, 2004
[Have an opinion on a Michael Colson column? Sound off in the Discussion
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The Truth about Our Lives: Life is not so simple. In fact, the complications found along the increasingly upward slope we walk can dwarf us at times. In the six degrees of separation that attach us to all things in the world, no one in their right mind would consider community service -- i.e. "one more thing to add to my already impossible list" -- a plus. This is the primary reason for the chasm that separates the Mother Theresa types and those more comfortable as Homer "D'oh!" Simpson. The truth about life is that most folks don't care about things outside of their car, jobs, dog, property boundaries, food, and getting back money from the IRS. But, what say I give a little...what's in it for me?
Word, Work & Reflection: We are motivated in life by a welter of factors. The WORD on the street is "Go ye therefore, and propagate." Which is what most of us are doing. Beavis, Butthead and Eddie Murphy's PJ are heroes in this mantra. Quotes from adherents talk of following others, doing unto other BEFORE they do unto you, and "he who has the most toys wins."
Then there is WORK to consider. My conspiracy theory take on this is that we all have too much of "the work ethic" that was injected into us at birth. The results are people who work hard and pay taxes their whole lives, with the hope that we'll get a chance to spend our retirement savings before we get a horrible disease and die. And for what do we work so hard for? That, indeed, is a good question.
AH, THE JOY OF REFLECTION. We are meaning-makers by nature. Terms like value, purpose, fulfillment and joy populate our thinking. You can swing Newtonian Law in here as well. For every good action (e.g. work), you get an equally opposite and good reaction (e.g. house, car, big dogs, beautiful children). But there has to be something in our lives that makes it worthwhile to be what Henry Ford called his workers: "shaking, quaking husks of men." Being REFLECTIVE about who we are in our community is very valuable. It's important to many of us. Is it "another day older and deeper in debt" - or - "Ha Cha Cha, living up town?"
Altruism is Not a Swear Word: In today's world there are many kinds of people. Altruism is that characteristic that marks "certain people" who possess the "stuff of gods." In this person's world, their lives regularly make contribution into the worldwide goodwill bank account - sacrifing and serving for the common good. That is altruism - and it is the backbone of all communities of goodwill. It's not the amount you deposit - it's the simple fact that you care to try.
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Are you Community Person? Most people do not join the Moose Clubs of America so they can wear antler hats. Or join a Lion's Den so they can run with the pride and growl in public. To be an Optimist does not mean you can smile all day and tell people it's going to be all right. Rosecrucians do not tend roses. And Rotarians are not all captains of industry. There are good reasons why people join groups like this. They're called volunteers. Why?
Folks like to hang out, have a good excuse for doing so, and get a few strokes for helping others or even penning a donation check. There is a need massaged when we tell a funny story, get our picture in the paper standing next to the Mayor -- or, better yet, Miss Dairy Products USA or Fabio. The good news is...that's a pretty good start. Pope John Paul, when referring to worldwide missions, called this activity the pinnacle of service. And while that level of commitment is not possible for most, we can be thankful that reality dictates that we still can do much in our community.
Becoming a Volunteer: Whatever your motivation to serve, you can smack yourself square on the back for just showing up. Just because most people do not serve their community, it does not follow that you (who live on the moral high ground as volunteers) are not useful. In fact, volunteers are good for us. I could at this stage invoke the metaphor of goodness and grace holding off the pounding waves of despair and evil. But, suffice it to say that volunteers win battles. They are part of something larger than themselves and while imparting their time and money are inherently connected in a more secure way to the community within which they live. Sound platitudinous? Good...now you're getting the picture!
Tenzig Norgay atop Everest
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Volunteerism teaches you many things: Yes, there's working with difficult people and the attendance at meetings that end after your favorite TV show is over. But there is also laughter (the deep, belly laugh variety), stress busting, something to do besides television and monopoly, and an opportunity to eat a heavy lunch with 100 of your best acquaintances from time to time. And, it is the No. 1 remedy for the barrenness of your busy life. It will lead you into wholesome activities like youth development, friendships outside of work, Saturdays with a purpose, camping where no man (voluntarily) has gone before, conversations with people you'd never talk to anywhere else, and the frenetic life of doing something for nothing and feeling damn good about it. YOU are often the No. 1 beneficiary - Your actions count!
What You Can Expect: You may not ever rise, as a community service volunteer, to the level of Saint Francis, Mother Theresa or various and sundry other saints. You may not get as high on the Everest of your life as did Tanzig Norgay or Mallory. Yet, in any journey upward there are plateaus.
Sailors atop their own "Everest"
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The higher you climb the better the view. From that high point - from wherever "way up there" is for you - you get to see things that few believe exist. Up there, God delivers to you fruit that others "know not of." It's called the fruits of His spirit; "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and [my personal favorite] self-control." Keep the faith. And, if that doesn't pan out...keep volunteering anyway. Your community needs you...and YOU get much in return as part of the bargain. Volunteer and live!
Do you want to learn how to volunteer? Contact your Chaplain/MWR/or local area service agencies for more info.
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© 2004 Michael Colson. All opinions expressed
in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those
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