%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 20 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 15 0 R /GS2 16 0 R /GS3 17 0 R /GS4 18 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 3.1.0 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20251021005408+00'00') /ModDate (D:20251021005408+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1697 >> stream xWˮ6+* p[WKg`A^` %Zb, It7|jNQfo[/xXuTq&im_FNiBr.oy+Gc;9U 8hsV.G$אM,nTV羬|(|,Bzj΃r5 d.ݤ9{SrA7kYj`z<œd=?L!sW/W/u61vM:̻ARas7'+ӌG@<T;0\nn)$[ƈAgT+5Ks$D9M5B1ң(>* d53~ilXc/1L"lUdl9ts B%495`5H}oYGSz;g ,| N'uܨ8nw!v|4]> vnO  BÏ18HMG b_17h1DUbWmZ 7ql \y}sϝ5\Q._zYQ{cLww*\mX RZy8|]!7H_ΩOъBs@+Sy??>p1SJq72f miN8sSf0xey-zrv: endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 19 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 21 0 R >> endobj 21 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1329 >> stream x}VɎ6WTn 0hi`1 DIHLR#/yEfE ⫪Wu˧j{w8n{,?$՚%=O(I?D/#KF*cn{ck΢e G &hU_Q#1,Mz4$Sn,eDOg F*tONN6bٞgq[aBhZ=CŇSa f] _'{G/JOFd7h#D։lpV|eiU辜%Q/>ͅ֋[€('sXhD! >VCS\פėoD-BԡFvf~87؟ o;/Vܡ#ߠx<釒ӳ S*:SgGX3t-㋟닛Czs_UM endstream endobj xref 0 22 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000401 00000 n 0000000430 00000 n 0000000579 00000 n 0000000682 00000 n 0000002452 00000 n 0000002559 00000 n 0000002667 00000 n 0000002777 00000 n 0000002890 00000 n 0000003006 00000 n 0000003035 00000 n 0000003145 00000 n 0000003202 00000 n 0000003259 00000 n 0000003318 00000 n 0000003377 00000 n 0000003406 00000 n 0000003511 00000 n trailer << /Size 22 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[<3854d067c58cb662797e37af6ca46906><3854d067c58cb662797e37af6ca46906>] >> startxref 4914 %%EOF On the Corner | Caring Magazine
Read Caring Magazine Volume 29

Vol. #29

Hope in Action

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

On the Corner

June 14, 2003
3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

by Robert Docter – 

So—you’ve now changed your epaulets. You’re now Salvation Army officers. How’s it feel?—relieved, anxious, overwhelmed, unready, confident, sad, delighted…

Get in the habit of becoming more aware of your own feelings. With awareness, you’ll be able to think about the kind of response you make. When the mind is inserted into the process you suddenly have a choice. Otherwise, we might as well have some ordinary layperson wearing those epaulets—and you are no longer any ordinary layperson.

You are now a fully trained professional.

Right!

I’ve got some advice for you as you enter this “people” business as a “servant leader.”

Here goes.

First, show up in every way. Show up for work—physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Show up with empathy and compassion. You’re there to discover and love the unloved—to hug the unhuggable—to listen to the hurting—to understand the non-understandable—to teach the unteachable—to perceive with accuracy the hidden matters within a system of relationships. Show up with intelligence. Trained professionals practice their discipline. Let’s face it. You really don’t know all there is to know about being a Salvation Army officer. You need a lot of practice. Therefore, be open to feedback—seek it—avoid sensing it as criticism—and when you give it to someone with whom you are sharing this little spinning hunk of dirt we call “Earth”—be sensitive to that person’s feelings as well. This job is a lot more than simply being a pastor—although some of you would prefer to limit yourself to that role. You’re not putting on vestments on Sunday morning—you’re putting on a uniform—and the symbolism of the difference is something I urge you to spend a lifetime figuring out.

Second, embrace the attitude that this place to which you are assigned now constitutes a permanent appointment. There will be no new appointment for you in two or three years. This is it. The town is now your town. The people, however, are not your people. In fact, look on that relationship the other way around. You are now theirs.

What we’re talking about here is your attitude. An attitude is a predisposition to behave in a particular way. If you go into this appointment and see it as a temporary stay, that attitude immediately begins to condition what you do—how you behave—what you expect. If you perceive the appointment as temporary you care less. You relate with less risk to spare yourself the loss of impending departure. You work for the short haul. You avoid being a builder. You fail to confront needed change. You’re looking ahead instead of where you are.

Be yourself. Be genuine. Be there.

Third, figure out what’s going on in this place. What’s happening? In other words—try to make a quiet assessment as to how the system at this place functions. For instance—what is its outward appearance? What does someone see for the first time when approaching and entering the place? What’s the overall feeling and tone of the place when people come together? Who sits next to whom? Who’s out on the fringe? Who talks to whom?

Try and figure out the power structure in the group. Who defines the problems? Who makes the rules? Explore the roles people play. Who are the caregivers—the workers—the talkers—the task-oriented—the big picture people—the contributors—the blamers and critics—the encouragers and supporters. Are there any victims or villains—any rescuers?

So—you are now a Salvation Army officer. As such, you take on an extremely complex role. Avoid believing that you have to be perfect. No one is perfect—even your D.C.! Try to be a learner. Travel gently in your relationships—be bold in your vision for the Army in your town—be respectful in your relationship with everyone—and please—be consistent. Remember, inconsistent people make those around them crazy.

Vaya con Dios.

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like