Vox populi | cheering us on

… encourage someone today

W

henever I step out of my office at the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg, Canada, a strange thing happens. My principal, Major Sandra Rice, comes barreling out of her office with pom poms and starts cheering, “Rick, Rick, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, no one can. Goooooo Rick!” In all my years in a lot of different places, I’ve never worked for anyone who offers more encouragement and cheers her team on as much as Major Rice. For example, as I write I am drinking a cup of coffee she brought to work for me today. I love Sandra Rice.

The sad thing is many people do not have a cheerleader in their life to scream to the world how much they’re appreciated. Well, other than God, but I’m talking from a purely worldly standpoint right now. And I know someone is saying, we don’t do this for cheers. See, you aren’t that person either. It’s even sadder that this is supposed to be one of the characteristics of the church. We’re supposed to encourage each other, build each other up and bear each other’s burdens, but truth be told we often look for faults in people to:

A. Beat them down to make us look better
B. Discourage them because of our own dysfunction
C. Act out our jealousy, and against our personal failures

Brother Tony Campolo shares a story about encouraging the body in his sermon, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming”. He shares about college football coach, Knute Rockney, who would always talk to the freshmen on the bench during a game. He would say, “If you were there you would have caught that ball.” or “There’s a play you would be great at”. By the time the player, in their senior year, had taken to the field they would be so pumped up that nothing could keep them from winning the game. The coach was the winningest coach in college football history.

I can’t say I’m the best person at this. I’m not. I’ve made some big mistakes, but I’m learning. I have seen how it works when people stand on the sidelines when you’re on the bench, and cheer you on, and I know what it is like to take to the field on a winning team, an encouraged, built up winning team. I wish everyone could say that, but they can’t.

Recently a friend shared with me how someone in his life had taken time to be a friend, and although the person didn’t know it, had impacted his life and how he views others. Today he is a leader in Christian ministry, and is seeking to emulate the kind of teaching he saw as a young man. That is the payoff!

So, today, encourage someone in your sphere of influence. If you’ve been a pill to someone then call them up and tell them something you appreciate about them. Tell someone who has impacted your life what they mean to you. Buy some pom poms or at least a good cup of coffee, and encourage someone today. It’s Easter weekend; a good reminder of Jesus cheering us on, and telling us how much we’re loved. I’m done for now. There is a crowd forming outside of Major Ray Harris’ office. It appears Major Rice is leading people in the Wave.

Vox populi appears every Friday on theRubicon. Find past Vox populi posts and a bio of Capt. Rick Zelinsky here.

8 Comments to Vox populi | cheering us on

1. YES, God Bless the cheerleaders! Blessed Easter weekend everyone.
Bryan Pittock on March 21st, 2008

2. Rick

   At Good Friday Service today I told Sandra about your piece and how you described are as a cheeleader. She mentioned the coffee she bought you.
   Firstly let me tell you that I agree with you about her and her way of dealing with people.

   Over the short time I have known her at our Corps I see in her the type of person who tries to build up rather than tear down.

   We do need more of them in all our lives.

   I just wonder how you and I would look in cheerleader outfits.
   ‘
   John
John Stephenson on March 21st, 2008

3. Rick Happy Purim to you Henry
Henry Armstrong on March 21st, 2008

4. Thanks everyone, John, no pom poms for you and I. Happy Purim to you Henry.
Rick on March 22nd, 2008

5. Rick

   I am so happy that you as a an officer have a cheerleader. We need them in our lives. I can only pray that some day as an officer I have a leader that would be an encouragement as well. My experience over the years has been sorely lacking in encouragement or even participation in my ministries. This is from not seeing anyone from DHQ for 8-12 months at a time to not being able to access anyone on the 7th floor in the Ivory tower (THQ) [ed: Territorial Headquarters - Canada & Bermuda]. Perhaps Major Rice should be in a Division where she could cheer on all the hard working officers.

   I only pray that our leaders both Divisional and Territorial take notice of your blog.

   Goooooooooooooo Rick!!!!!
Happy for you on March 23rd, 2008

6. That’s the downside to the issue, isn’t it. I wish your story was isolated, and maybe it is, but is the problem that people are really not being encouraged or is it that their expectations are too high? I tend to think it is the former. Immediately, anyone reading this who has officers in their divisions are offering up rebuttal to this, but relax, this isn’t a beat up on leaders day. It may be more of a systemic problem as we move into more business-like rolls where our focus shifts away from the people and over to the statistics and the finances.

   Am I being too simple or naive when I suggest we just need to encourage more?

   As for Sandra? You can’t have her yet.
Rick on March 24th, 2008

7. It seems to me that, as Rick points out, it is a systemic issue and that TSA’s system is weak on both ends of the AA scale (Affirmation and Accountability).

   The system accepts a job well done as “only to be expected” and generally are pro-active in initiating contact when someone screws up. Its a damage control and risk-management approach toward the ground troops.

   We don’t often push for true accountability, rather - we punish. Punitive measures are reactive in nature and a different thing altogether than a culture of accountability. They create a culture of fear and tend to chase grace away.

   We’re all just too busy, I reckon.
Geoff Ryan on March 24th, 2008

8. My true feeling as an officer is that many in leadership roles have lost the urgency to save the lost but rather to hold and maintain the present. When an officer or lay person comes along with any passion for the lost they are seen as different and one to be watched. I have seen over my ears of service in Canada more of a corporate model in the Army as opposed to a soul saving mission. This is where the non affirmation for hard work for the Lord comes in. I see many of our leaders so busy trying to keep the money rolling in that they are threatened by those with a passion for souls. I think that when anyone is centred in a Christ like sense of being that affirmation would only come naturally. I can only pray that we at the bottom of the leadership triangle can reach out the hand of affirmation and support to one another.
Happy for you on March 30th, 2008

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