Packing Parachutes

I had the opportunity to spend some time this afternoon with other temporal affairs Managing Directors and the Presiding Bishopric. Even though we had to maintain social distance and wear masks, it was great to be able to meet in person. Starting our remote work pilot is likely still a few months away. However, I look forward to being able to spend some more time in the office associating with many of you.
 
During the meeting, the Presiding Bishopric took the opportunity to review our vision and highlight a few of the guiding principles. As they discussed the importance of our roles in preparing the way, I was reminded of a story of a Naval fighter pilot who was shot down over enemy territory. He parachuted safely to the ground but was immediately captured and endured six years as a P.O.W. He was eventually released and returned home. One evening while he was out with his wife, he was approached by a man who knew his name, aircraft, and the details of his capture. When the pilot asked how he knew so much about him, the man responded, “I packed your parachute.”
 
As the pilot later thought about that man, he thought about the trust he had placed in him without even knowing him. And that had it not been for his hours of careful and precise work, the pilot wouldn’t be alive to meet him years later.
 
ICS’s stewardship is a little like packing parachutes. We are responsible and accountable for an important work and we each have skills, abilities, and talents that we must constantly improve to ensure big-picture success. We build trust when we do quality work that others can count on every time.
 
Over the next few days, I invite you to think about our vision and the guiding principles, which are the same as were sent yesterday from the Presiding Bishopric. They help us keep in mind the critical outcomes that define big-picture success. Please spend some time pondering ways your specific talents and job can better add value to the work of the Lord with that context in mind. Once you have identified several, choose one and build a personal action plan around it. I hope that it will be insightful for you and helpful as you complete your day-to-day responsibilities.
 
As always, thank you for being a vital part of the work,
Jason