“On the strength of one link in the cable,
Dependeth the might of the chain.
Who knows when thou may’st be tested?
So live that thou bearest the strain!”
Check out the rest at this World War I document archive
One of 27 rhythmical stanza’s that forced their way into my life one day during the summer of 1988.
It was a clear call, that had been started with a simple Induction day message to me and my approximately 1,500 classmates at the United States Naval Academy for the class of 1992. My recall of that day is fogged, but I do remember being asked “Turn to look at the person to your right, now the person to your left… One of you will not make graduation, be sure it’s not you.”
Sure enough, we graduated about 1,000
We are in a similar situation today. You could say “look at the people at the grocery store… one of them might have the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19… don’t be the weakest link.”
There is fear and distancing and finger pointing and it must stop.
What stood out to me as I first learned this stanza was “Me.” I was sure they had made a mistake in selecting me and every person I met that July 6th induction day seemed far more qualified, confident and capable than I had ever felt or believed myself to be, but yet there I was. I was likely the weakest link and I was going to let my classmates and myself down when I broke.
But I learned something over that summer and in life. We weren’t just tied to each other in a chain, we were woven together through out cause, our purpose and our belief in one another. And our purpose wasn’t just to hold onto the link next to us… we had an “anchor” to place. We encouraged each other and found ways to support the “weakest” links who weren’t catching on. That didn’t happen at first, we were all to freaked out about the new circumstances we were all facing… just like today. But eventually we saw that there were some jobs we could NOT accomplish if we only used a chain made up of “strong links.” Sometimes we had to risk everything on a “longer cable” made up of “weaker” links to get the job done.
We had this one guy, who seemed to attract disaster. Physical injury, chemical burns, emotional attack. It was a horror show. But I was never more encouraged by the human spirit. He wouldn’t quit! And we rallied around him and we all grew stronger because we saw ourselves in him. He didn’t make it, but I know I DID… because of him. I am a stronger link today, who sees myself as a part of legacy chain, and I am honored to have a place at the table of Naval Officers dating back to John Paul Jones and the heritage of the United States Navy.
My faith puts it this way…
‘‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’ ‘
(I recommend reading it here) Luke 10:25-37
I was a part of that chain… that cable. And do you know it wasn’t about me
Just like it wasn’t about Captain Brett Crozier (my 1992 classmate) when he acted to support the men and women of his command – The Carrier CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt. He acted from his place in the “chain” as best he could from the perspective he had and did what he felt was best. He fought as a man in the arena.
The Namesake of his ship put it this way…
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
I also heard another alumnus of the United States Naval Academy, the Acting Secretary of the Navy who had relieved my classmate of command, speak regarding Captain Crozier’s actions. It brought my blood to a boil to hear some of the things he said and made we wonder if he had been paying attention in the Naval Leadership classes we both attended or if he had missed some of the lessons learned leading the men and women of one of the mightiest fighting forces in the world – the United States Navy, but then I remembered something (Thank you Will)… I was not IN the Acting Secretary of the Navy’s “Arena.” I had no idea what he was dealing with and I will not join the critics “in the stands” of this situation.
However, I AM a part of HIS CHAIN. I am on this earth and I AM a human who can act to be as strong and as ready as I can be… ALL while doing what I can to strengthen the other links in the cable.
So enough! Enough with the pointing “out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better”… that time will come. For now, be responsible for what you can do.
What positive action can you take right now?
What connection could you make via Zoom or Skype of email or text that would strengthen the other links in your chain?
Act and get out of the stands.
We need you in the Arena.
We’ve got this.