I was reading a story from the book “Habitudes” by Tim Elmore.
A WWII Kamikaze pilot was interviewed by a local news reporter after returning from his 50th mission. “The reporter noted that wasn’t this pilot a contradiction in terms. When the reporter asked the pilot how could he be a kamikaze pilot and still be alive after 50 missions” The pilot responded “Well its like this. I was very involved. Not very committed, but very involved.”
I couldn’t help but laugh a little at the pilots response. Maybe when
he signed up he didn’t realize what he was getting himself into. With
involvement it leaves options open, if it doesn’t work out you can move
on to something else with ease , in this case the pilot lived.
Commitment is another story by being committed you are leaving the
door open for failure, not saying you will but possible. If the pilot was committed to his mission he would of only made one trip.
he signed up he didn’t realize what he was getting himself into. With
involvement it leaves options open, if it doesn’t work out you can move
on to something else with ease , in this case the pilot lived.
Commitment is another story by being committed you are leaving the
door open for failure, not saying you will but possible. If the pilot was committed to his mission he would of only made one trip.
A AIM staffer asked me a similar question about a week ago, “was I committed.” Of course, was my thought, I am committed to living out of a backpack, changing time zones, eating random stuff, sleeping not in my bed, ect. As I ran the question through my brain a few times they added to that “I’m not talking about the race. I am talking about a commitment to changing yourself.” OH… . Commitment to changing me was totally different. That means digging deep into that uncomfortable stuff that I like to keep in the very back of the closet boxed up and put neatly away. That means facing some hard questions and giving honest answers. I was given some time to think about it and during that time I came across he kamikaze story.
I thought how awesome is God for putting this story in front of me, helping me piece the question together better . Willingly giving up comforts to travel the world is simply being involved in the race, but having a willingness to look within and change yourself that’s commitment. Michael Jackson was so right when he talked about “starting with the man in the mirror”, I can’t help but quote songs I love them. Going out and changing the world is great but in order for me to do it to further His kingdom. In order for Him to work through me, I must start the change from within.
“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change,
so I shortened my sights and decided to change only my country.
But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had
only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my
family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would the have been
able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my
world.”
only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my
family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would the have been
able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my
world.”
-written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop
In the Crypts of Westminster Abby
Why do we always try and start from the end and push our way back to the beginning? The bishop had good intentions but failed to recognize, until the fading moments of his life, that something inside him had to change before he could change others.
