Now that I’m retired, my wife lets me help her around the house. The other day she asked me to do some menial task and I jokingly replied “What! Do you know who I was?” Yes, I was teasing, because it doesn’t matter who I “was.” It only matters who I am right now.
There were times when I was in positions of authority and was expected to get my people to take care of the smaller tasks so I could do bigger ones. I’ve never felt I was too good to do those little jobs, but I could get more done by using my subordinates than by doing the work myself. Doing my own work and making sure my subordinates did theirs kept me busy.
When I was in the Air Force, I was assigned to John Hay Air Station, Philippines. My boss and I were responsible for facility maintenance, electrical power, water, and the Fire Station. In addition to normal tasks, we had typhoons, labor strikes, hundreds of VIP visitors and the People Power revolution to add to our workload. We couldn’t handle all that work without our staff of 125 Filipino employees. They had skills I didn’t have and the extra hands I needed. I managed our workforce and when something went wrong, the Commander called me for answers. I also took care of my subordinates, meaning I rewarded and disciplined, hired and fired them. Yes, I was “somebody” because I had the responsibilities and was given the authority to do my job.
While working for the State Department, I was assigned to the U. S. Embassy in Beijing and had 40 people working under me. We provided, mail and pouch service, telephone and radio capabilities and classified computer support for one of our busiest missions. Those tasks were so critical to the success of the mission, if something didn’t go right, I would get a call that began with “The Ambassador wants to know…” and I had better have an answer. I also had to take care of my people who took care of all those important tasks. Yes, I was the “somebody” who had to make sure it all got done, so the diplomats could do their important work.
There was somebody I also used to be. Many years ago I was “lost” and bound for Hell. I had messed up so many times and no matter how hard I tried or how sorry I felt about my failures, I would fail again and again. I knew if I died right then, I would spend an eternity paying for my sins. I was also “afraid” because my future looked uncertain. My parents had divorced, my mother was in a mental hospital and I was placed in the Foster Care system. People were paid to care for me until I could finish school, but beyond that my future looked bleak. I was a nobody who wasn’t good at anything and held no value in this world.
That is when I found out “GOD so loved the world” (including me) “he gave his only begotten son that whosoever” (including me) “believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). That was a game changer! I believed and JESUS saved me from death, Hell and the grave! He also made me a part of the family of GOD! In JESUS I became “somebody” and no matter what happens, I know I am saved!
Wayne Lance (2020)