Moves & Rumors of Moves - A.I.M.'s 11th shot.

Many years ago, an anonymous African-American songwriter gave us these words;

You've got to move when the Spirit says move,
you've got to move when the Spirit says move,
'cause when the Spirit says move,
You've got to move when the Spirit,
move when the Spirit says move.

Years later (but still years ago) Blind (Rev.) Gary Davis & Fred McDowell penned the Blues song; "You Gotta Move" (later recorded by The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and The Lost Dogs).   Here are some of the lyrics;

You gotta move
You gotta move
You gotta move, child
You gotta move
And when the Lord get ready
You gotta move

All that to say; it's that time again.  Some International, National and Territorial appointments have already been announced, and there are more to come.  I have been dealing with the Army's appointment process my whole life.  I was raised by Salvation Army Officer-Parents, and I have been a Salvation Army officer for 19 years.  I'm not an expert on it, but since blogging doesn't require any expertise, here goes...

Dear Leaders in our MOVEment,

Here are a few thoughts I'd like to share with you regarding moves & rumors of moves;

1.  If you are an Army leader helping decide who to move and where to move them;

• I'm praying for you during this season.
• I would love to see more consultation in our process.  I know there has been movement (pun intended) in this area, and I'm thankful for that.  I would like to see even more consultation with field officers, and it would be great if Corps Councils could be involved as well.  I would love to see more women receive appointments on the basis of their gifting, strengths, experiences, and passions.
• I acknowledge that I am naive and idealistic.  I also acknowledge that these issues are complex.
• In discussing the appointment process, please be sensitive to the feelings of employees/soldiers/officers present.
• I'm praying for you during this season.

2.  If you are an Army leader who is not involved in the decision process in regards to appointments;

• I'm praying for you during this season.
• Let me encourage you to complete (and be completely honest in) your annual surveys.  Let me further encourage you to engage in conversation with your leaders regarding your current appointment, your family, your gifts, etc.  Some Salvationitsts will strongly disagree with this approach, citing the concern that it conflicts with the concept of complete trust in the process.  Fair enough.  However, it makes sense to me that since humans are making the decisions, they should be well-informed decisions.
• In discussing the appointment process, please be sensitive to the feelings of employees & soldiers present.
• Let's stay in our current appointments until we leave.  What I mean is, let's give our best and our all to those we are currently leading and serving, guarding against the temptation to; covet other Officers' appointments, slow down because we might be on the move, get so wrapped up in moves & rumors of moves that our current mission doesn't move forward.
• I'm praying for you during this season.

3.  If you are an Army leader who is not a Salvation Army officer;

• I'm praying for you during this season.
• If you are an employee, thoughts of losing your current co-worker/supervisor can cause anxiety.  Thoughts of who might replace that co-worker/supervisor can cause even more anxiety.  Those are normal concerns.  As another songwriter wrote; "...take it to the Lord in prayer".
• If you are a soldier, this time of year can press the pause button on the mission-movement of your corps.  Don't let that happen! 
• Whether you are an Army employee or soldier, can I ask a favor of you?  Please avoid talking about the appointment process (moves) like it's no big deal to the Officers involved.  It is a big deal.  Moving is not easy for anyone.  Talking about moves lightly, joking about where an officer might move, thinking out loud about who you'd like to come to your corps/institution, (or who you'd like to leave your corps/institution) is part of our culture, but not necessarily a healthy part. 
• I'm praying for you during this season.

IN CHRIST & OUTreach,

-rob

P.S.  All I know is the Army in the Western Territory.  I realize some portions of this blog entry do not apply to other territories.  I also know that there are no easy fixes.  Please consider this just one more comment in a long, healthy conversation between friends. 

P.P.S.  I'd like to leave you with Acts 17:28 - "For in Him we live and MOVE and have our being".

P.P.P.S.  Since, like Will.I.Am, we in the Army like to "move it, move it" here's something just for fun...

On the road again! A.I.M.'s 10th shot.

The Birksfam just returned from a road trip to SoCal for a few days of training on how to be good mentors.  The kids weren't involved in the training, they went to see their star-cousins @ Crestmont one day, and walk the stars in Hollywood the next.  On the way down, one of our kids asked something about the different routes from S.F to L.A.  I'm sure there are more, but the first three that came to mind were; I-5, Hwy 1, & Hwy 99, (for you fact-checkers - Yes, I'm aware that getting to both the 99 & the 5 from San Francisco requires one to travel other highways first, and that the 99 merges with the 5 a bit North of the Grapevine).  The more I thought about these routes, I began to draw some parallels between them and different leadership styles.  Here are a few notes.

I-5 is the route you take from S.F. if you want to get to L.A. as fast as possible. It has a higher speed limit, and the most lanes.  WARNING:  There aren't too many good places to stop, or beautiful sights to see if you travel this route.  Unless, of course, you consider a million cows with no elbow room (do cows have elbows?) hanging out near Harris Ranch a beautiful sight.  But if you're looking to get to your destination as quickly as possible, Interstate 5 is for you.



Another way to go is Hwy 99.  As I already mentioned, this merges with I-5, just North of the Grapevine.  But for approx. 4 hours before that happens, Hwy 99 takes you through some of California's classic towns; Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, etc.  The Hwy 99 pace is a bit slower than I-5, but there are more rest areas & points of interest. Also,  on a hot day, a lot more shade.  Perhaps more important than shade and scenery, Hwy 99 boasts way more In & Out Burgers than I-5.  Aslo, Hwy 99 has a cooler sign.
 
Finally, (for the purposes of this shot of A.I.M.) there is Hwy 1.  If I wanted to, I could pull onto Hwy 1 just outside my neighborhood, and head to L.A.  On the way, I would pass through Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, & Malibu (from there you can walk to L.A., but I wouldn't recommend it).  For most if the journey, the Pacific Ocean would be visible on my right.  WARNING:  Only travel this route if you are okay with "long and winding roads", and if you have all the time in the world.  This route is by far the slowest and most enjoyable route from S.F. to L.A.

Later, while preparing for this blog post, I remembered Hwy 101.  I think I had psychologically blocked it out of my mind, due to a $300 speeding ticket I received driving through Santa Maria in the 80's.  So I will just give it an honorable mention here.

As a leader, you have choices available to you everyday.  In every opportunity that presents itself to you, you will need to choose how you will respond.  It won't do too many people too much good if the "path" you choose is always the same, because you see yourself as an I-5, "get 'er done" leader, or a Hwy 99 "slow, but sure" leader, or a Hwy 1 "take it easy" leader.  Different situations call for different kinds of leadership, often from the same leader. Of course, I'm not advocating an ever-changing, chameleon style of leadership -just the discerning, flexible, situation-sensitive kind.  After all, Jesus hardly ever responded or reacted the same way twice to those with whom he interacted.  NEEDED:  Leaders who know that many roads can lead to a good decision or action, but only one at a time.  Pick a route & go with it.  I'll see you on the road.

1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (The Message)

 

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!