The following true story is told in “Chicken Soup For The Veteran’s Soul”:
The USS Astoria was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island which was fought in August of 1942. The Astoria was badly damaged in the battle and sank shortly after noon August 9, 1942.
Ten hours before the ship sank, a young Midwesterner, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was swept overboard by the blast when the Astoria’s number one eight-inch gun turret exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, he was kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger mechanism. Four hours later, he was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water.
Picked up again, this time by the USS President Jackson, he was one of 500 survivors of the battle. On board the transport, Staples closely examined the life belt that had served him so well and decided to keep it as a souvenir, a reminder of how lucky he had been. The label showed that it had been manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio.
When he got home on leave, Staples told his story and learned that his mother had taken a wartime job with Firestone. Staples jumped up, grabbed his life belt out of his duffel bag and showed his mother that it was made at her plant. She looked at the label on the belt and was shocked. There was a number on the belt which indicated who had inspected it before it left the plant. The number on Staple’s belt was his mother’s personal code and was affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.
Elgin Staples writes, “My mother had put her arms halfway around the world to save me.”
What a powerful story! And it makes me wonder about our attitude in the workplace. What if Elgin’s mother’s attitude toward her work was the same as ours is so often? Suppose she went in to the plant every day saying, “I’ll do just as little as possible to get by. I’ll work hard when the boss is watching, but when he’s not, I’ll slack off. Why put everything I’ve got into my work? Nobody appreciates it anyway.”
Do you suppose anything about our attitude might change if we knew that the quality of work we produce every day could possibly result in the life or death of someone we dearly love? Would we take our jobs any more seriously? Would we work harder, more carefully?
Most of us will never find ourselves in that situation. But the apostle Paul does give one bit of advice to the slaves of his day that relates to each of us in our workplace:
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:22-24)
What a great attitude for Christians to have in the workplace — whatever you do, do it as if you were doing it for Christ. I truly believe that if we as Christians were to take this principle to heart, we would immediately stand out as the very best workers that an employer has.
I don’t believe Jesus ever produced a piece of shoddy workmanship in his carpentry shop. I don’t believe he ever made excuses for why something was done at less than his very best ability. I believe he always gave his best.
May that attitude characterize his people as well. And who knows? Your diligence could very well result some day in saving the life of someone you dearly love!
Have a great day!
Alan Smith