IF not you, Who?
Search and Rescue
About 5 years ago I was on an overnight wilderness survival course for a volunteer Search and Rescue (SAR) organization. In the middle of the training, in the middle of the woods, in middle of the day while we happen to be in cell coverage our phones started to ring. There was a call for a missing person that had come in. Immediately, I thought, it's a good thing we have other members not in this course that can go, because we need to finish training here to receive our certification. There was a little chatter about the call and what it was about, everyone was of the same mindset, we're here in the middle of nowhere, we're not the people that can help.
Then I noticed one seasoned member, who looked tired, worn out, sweaty, dirty and quite frankly he already looked defeated from the training exercise. He looked like he was packing up, he looked like this "go-now" call was his ticket out of there. I judgmentally asked him, "You're going, you're living us?". His reply was, "If we don't go, who will?".
This hit me hard, I had failed myself on what I thought I believed on so many levels.
When called, I didn't listen.
When I had a choice, I thought someone else would do my work.
When I saw action from another, I judged him and thought he was the weak person.
When I was strong and full of energy, I let someone tired and worn out lead me.
When I older and thought I was wiser, I let someone else correct me and guide me.
When my community needed me, I put myself first.
The list goes on... I was not, who I thought I was.
I was playing out a SCENE so well, that even I believed my own acting of the character I was playing. I thought I was a role model SAR Team Leader, but it was only one act in the movie of life I was playing.
When called... if not you, who?
