May 2002 Volume 83 Number 5
"serving the protectors"
| May 2002 Volume 83 Number 5 "serving the protectors" |
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ChaplaincyMaking a vow |
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| By David Marr |
Over Easter my wife and I were invited to Gus and Floss’s 30th wedding anniversary. Meeting old friends and generally celebrating the occasion, we had a great evening. As the evening wore on, it came time for Gus to make a speech “on behalf of my wife and myself”. He looked as tidy as I had ever seen him, and I noticed Floss look at him and smile to herself.
It was during his speech – which had its sensitive and tender moments – that Gus paid special tribute to Floss’s long suffering, forgiveness and her ability to remain objective. He told us all that these were attributes which were not written in the vows they had taken that fateful afternoon long ago.
His words soon had me thinking that most of us probably don’t recall the vows and promises we made that day. Perhaps that is why so many of us don’t find it too difficult to leave them behind.
Gus holds the view that a man’s word is his bond. He regularly tells me: “Don’t say something if you don’t mean it.” Gus is pretty much an up-front person who holds strong views and likes a debate. He doesn’t walk away from difficult subjects – or difficult people – but at times can be rather difficult himself. It is true he sticks to his word, even though at times it doesn’t suit him. It is almost as though he sticks it out just to prove to you that he can do it. Floss describes him as “plain pig-headed.”
Perhaps it really is the attitude behind what we promise that matters most. I know I vowed “for better for worse; for richer for poorer; in sickness and in health”. There are times when even the most stoic of us might struggle because it all seems worse than what we had in mind when we uttered those words.
Floss once told me she had in mind to knock a few of the rough edges off Gus once the wedding was over. She thought she would have him better organized and change some of his “uncouth” behaviour. She now agrees it didn’t work but says it has made her think more carefully about any promises she now makes. The kids claim to be victims of her negative experiences. Gus simply says he meant what he promised at the time even though he hardly remembers it now.
I couldn’t help myself and joined their conversation with: “Jesus politely discouraged people from making vows, you know, especially ones they were really unable to keep. He told his hearers in Matthew’s Gospel to simply say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, because anything more than that tended to lead to trouble.”
“There you go,” replied Gus. “I just knew that somewhere Jesus and I would have something in common.”
At the conclusion of his speech, Gus looked over their guests. “You’re a variety you lot,” he said. “I hope you gave more consideration to your vows the second time round.”
Floss grabbed his arm and pulled him into his chair. She pointed to the nearby trailer loaded with stale rubbish and reminded him of his promise to have it emptied before Easter. She reminded us all that it is easier to make vows than it is to keep them.
Have you made any vows lately?
SA Police Chaplains
Welfare Section 58 David Marr 8364 3567 Senior Police Chaplain. Academy 8 Brenton Daulby 8272 8324 Adelaide: 158 Vacant Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517 Ceduna 214 Sybil Peacock 8625 3505 Christies Beach 20 Peter Coote 8381 3039 0412 818 995 Clare 202 Michael Dutschke 8842 3681 Communications 172 David Hand 8376 5612 Elizabeth 52 Lindsay Mayes 8281 8088 Far North 210 John Folkman 8672 5011 Firearms/Records Dianna Bartlett 8337 8552 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke 8522 2288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Tim Kowald 8449 6868 Holden Hill 44 Rod Dyson 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Vacant Kingston 208 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth (w) 8723 1353 (h) 8725 2537 Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill 8532 5536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff 8737 2457 0417 811 702 Norwood 60 Lynton Wade 8362 2227 0418 831 703 Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald 8562 1011 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Steve Ardill 8632 3977 Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Mark Thomas 8642 2487 0401 671 850 Port Lincoln 214 Peter King 8682 3725 Riverland 212 Robin Zadow 8588 1540 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal 8278 9578 Ian Dempsey 8296 7292 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Vacant Transit Division Rob Packer 8332 9155 Victor Harbor Graham Rogerson (h) 8552 1718 (w) 8552 5029 Whyalla 218 Tony Redden 8649 3593
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