Do Some Stuff

I thought I would follow up the felxicution post with a post about how we arrive at the point of flexicution in the Army. The genesis of this this usually comes in the form of "guidance". Right now I am neck deep in the planning phase of a major 2 month train-up for an up-coming deployment. My guidance came in the form of 2 vague PowerPoint slides and one of my favorite phrases "Do good stuff, don't mess it up."

This is the greatest guidance you can ever give if you have no idea what to say, and are just glad you're not the one that has do whatever it is that you are tasking out. Or, you just don't have the time to spell it all out. It is however, probably the least helpful advice you can give. It doesn't tell anyone anything other than if you don't get it right there will be consequences. It also assumes that you know what good stuff is.

We tend to do this when giving Christian guidance.

Guy: Hey, I'm about to go off to a secular state school and be surrounded by alcohol, sex, and drugs.

Me: Wow, well you know, "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." and stuff. (Matt. 5:48)

Guy: Thanks josh, your deep words of wisdom have profoundly impacted me in ways I have only just begun to realize.

Me: I know.
And we leave it at that.

There it is: the Christian equivalent of "do good stuff, don't mess it up." I am terrible about giving guidance. I automatically switch into Holy Mode (because if you are coming to me for guidance I must put on my holy headgear) and start spouting obscure verses that while possibly helpful, are usually followed by an oratory that will in the end surmount to do good stuff, don't mess up.

That's not what Christ is about though. His "do good stuff", comes in the middle of the sermon on the mount in which he gives all sorts of useful guidance on specific topics to which we can relate (poverty, divorce, judging others, etc.). His guidance is clear and detailed. As for the second part, the "don't mess it up part", his response is; he will meet us with love. I am working on my giving guidance in a more accessible, less "holier-than-thou, do good stuff, don't mess it up" approach. Hopefully this blog is a good start. If it's not, call me on it, I can always use feedback; negative or positive.