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A Compromising Joe!
(Part 1)
CHARGE! Looking Back. Facing Forward: 5 Wise Words of Counsel
By Commissioner Joe Noland
Doris and I recently visited The Salvation Army’s cemetery
plot in San Francisco where the physical remains of her
officer parents are laid to rest, along with many other
sterling PTG Salvationists. While ambling through this vast
section, reminiscing over the familiar names inscribed on each
headstone, an unexpected wave of nostalgia and longing swept
over us, bringing to mind the lyrics of this1960’s hit song:
Those were the days my friend
We'd thought they'd never
end
We'd sing and dance Forever and the day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young And sure to have our way
La La La La La…
Those were the days my friend, those were the days.
And the verses accompanying this chorus (paraphrased):
Once upon a time there was an Army,
Where we marched and
beat a drum or two.
Remember how we sang away the hours,
And dreamed of all the great things we would do.
Then the busy years went rushing by us,
We lost our stary
notions along the way.
If by chance I'd see you on the
corner,
We'd smile at one another and we'd say…
(Go
ahead, sing and La La along)
Just today I stood upon that corner,
Nothing seemed the way it
used to be.
In my mind I saw a strange reflection,
Was that
aging person really me?
Abiding there, it slowly dawned on us, “We know more people
resting here in this cemetery than we do alive!” In my mind I
saw a strange reflection, was that aging person really me?
As we stood, melancholically, midst those great hearts, the
image of that revered open-air stand at Market, Powell and
Eddy in San Francisco flashed through our minds. We had
marched to that corner with many of them, banners and bonnets
waving, crowds gathering, fire-a-volley’s echoing and souls
kneeling at the drumhead. Once upon a time there was an army,
where we marched and beat a drum or two.
From the cemetery, we hopped in the car and drove direct to
that memorable street corner, nostalgia still awash. To our
utter dismay it was no longer there in the same configuration,
the three corners now merging together into a modernized
plaza. What a disappointment! Change is a scary thing. Just
today I stood upon that corner, nothing seemed the way it used
to be.
In many ways the new, modern plaza design is much more
conducive to street meetings. The people are still there,
beggars, shoppers and tourists, long lines waiting to board
the Powell Street Cable Car for it’s scenic journey to
Fisherman’s Wharf, many of them lonely, longing and looking
for life’s answers, I’m sure. Remember how we sang away the
hours, and dreamed of all the great things we would do.
There was a disheveled looking man in the plaza passing out
tracts, wearing a sandwich board, its bold lettering
admonishing onlookers to, “REPENT OR GO TO HELL!” Alas! The
Salvation Army is no longer there. Then the busy years went
rushing by us, we lost our stary notions along the way.
As we pause there reminiscing, the ghosts of corners past
appear fleetingly in our minds-eye: University and 43ed, East
San Diego; Broadway and Horton Plaza, Downtown San Diego;
Bristol and Edinger, Santa Ana; Hollywood and Vine (Insert
your own street-corner memories here). Those were the days my
friend, we'd thought they'd never end, we'd sing and pray,
forever and the day.
Looking back, what would I have done differently? I would have
heeded the Apostle’s two following charges more closely and
carefully: “…do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping
a firm grip on your faith and on yourself.” Unfortunately,
there were too many times when I compromised these two
italicized phrases – a compromising Joe – resulting in The
Salvation Army no longer being out there, uncompromisingly, as
it once was. And I wasn’t alone.
Fear is the great compromiser and often results in a loosened
grip. It was Franklyn D. Roosevelt, during World War II, who
said, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” The grip wasn’t
loosened, faith maintained, and the war won.
The war that we continuously struggle in is beyond compare.
Were I doing it over, I would be bolder in my approach toward
soul saving/evangelism and I would most definitely take more
risks. The feeling of “fear of failure” (which has given me
pause on many occasions) would be resisted even more
vigorously. So my charge to you going forward is to 1) fight
fearlessly – “Fear not for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10) and
2) Get a grip! (Fight Faithfully) – “This is the victory that
has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Reclaim the highways and byways contemporaneously, fearlessly,
faithfully and victoriously. “After all, this is a fight we’re
in!”
(Continued in Part 2 ...A Gentrified Joe)
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