One Eyed Pete
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with employees in Tampa, Florida. It was a grand time. We arrived on the tail end of what Floridian call Gasparilla. It is a weekend where they celebrate the fame and power of the dred pirate Jose Gaspar, nickname Gasparilla, the last of the buccaneers.
We thought it would be fun to capitalize on the celebration and theme are meetings accordingly. At one point, the Managing Director of all Contact Centers, dress in full pirate garb, decided to test the Floridians pirate knowledge with some trivia/pirate jokes. One of his first questions was as follows:
Why do pirates often wear a patch over one eye?
I thought it was an interesting question. I racked my brain trying to think of and AAARRRGH that would fit, but could not. After many attempts, the group finally gave in and let him explain. Pirates were notorious for taking over any ship that crossing their way. They would fire cannons into the sails to in order to slow the fleeing ship. Once they had stopped them, they would pull along side the ship and board to loot and plunder. This was often done in broad day light while out at sea. The purpose of the patch was to give the pirate an advantage over their combatants when chasing them below deck. When they went from the bright sun to the dark under belly, they would remove the patch, exposing the eye that was already adjusted to the dark and close the other. Those they were fighting would be at a disadvantage because they were blinded in the darkness until their eyes adjusted to the shadows.
I have pondered that idea/strategy a great deal as of late. It was an ingenious idea, but they spent a great deal of their time, always walking or preparing to walk in the dark. Is that any way to live?
Yesterday, the thoughts that were shared by the second man in the companionship has started me thinking again. This young elder shared his thoughts about D&C 115:5. That we need to arise and shine forth. He talked about how he had moved from West Valley several years ago to live in a small town in up state New York. Though he never thought he would be serving back in his old stomping grounds, here he was. Through the experience, he has learned that maybe the Lord is giving him a second chance to let his light shine in an area where he did not shine before. He was grateful for the opportunity, but hoped and prayed daily that the Lord would let him redeem himself from another missed opportunity back in New York.
You see, they moved to a small town of about 300. In this small down, there were only 2 families that shared his beliefs. On Sundays, they drove to another neighboring town that has a population of about 3000. There were 6 other families in that town that comprised of their branch.
That being said, there were not many opportunities to socialize with friends who had common beliefs. They were good people, but just didn't have the same religious values. Shortly after graduating from high school, he was hanging out with his closes group of friends. They were all joking around and playing, when he was caught off guard. One of his dear friends pulled out a Book of Mormon and asked if he would read a passage or two to them. He was not prepared.
Unlike the pirates of old, he could not remove the patch and close one eye. You seek, his friend was handing him a lit candle and asking him to magnify its light. Instead, he took a deep breath and blew out the candle. Instead of letting his light shine, he left his closest friends in the dark.
I have been wondering what we do with the candles that are handed to us. Are we blowing them out? Or do we surround them with magnifying glasses that would increase the glow and power of our flames?
Comparing the two stories, I wonder what would be better, to walk in the dark with a patch or a candle/lantern always shine, no matter how dark it is?
What do you think? Patch or Lantern.
We thought it would be fun to capitalize on the celebration and theme are meetings accordingly. At one point, the Managing Director of all Contact Centers, dress in full pirate garb, decided to test the Floridians pirate knowledge with some trivia/pirate jokes. One of his first questions was as follows:
Why do pirates often wear a patch over one eye?
I thought it was an interesting question. I racked my brain trying to think of and AAARRRGH that would fit, but could not. After many attempts, the group finally gave in and let him explain. Pirates were notorious for taking over any ship that crossing their way. They would fire cannons into the sails to in order to slow the fleeing ship. Once they had stopped them, they would pull along side the ship and board to loot and plunder. This was often done in broad day light while out at sea. The purpose of the patch was to give the pirate an advantage over their combatants when chasing them below deck. When they went from the bright sun to the dark under belly, they would remove the patch, exposing the eye that was already adjusted to the dark and close the other. Those they were fighting would be at a disadvantage because they were blinded in the darkness until their eyes adjusted to the shadows.
I have pondered that idea/strategy a great deal as of late. It was an ingenious idea, but they spent a great deal of their time, always walking or preparing to walk in the dark. Is that any way to live?
Yesterday, the thoughts that were shared by the second man in the companionship has started me thinking again. This young elder shared his thoughts about D&C 115:5. That we need to arise and shine forth. He talked about how he had moved from West Valley several years ago to live in a small town in up state New York. Though he never thought he would be serving back in his old stomping grounds, here he was. Through the experience, he has learned that maybe the Lord is giving him a second chance to let his light shine in an area where he did not shine before. He was grateful for the opportunity, but hoped and prayed daily that the Lord would let him redeem himself from another missed opportunity back in New York.
You see, they moved to a small town of about 300. In this small down, there were only 2 families that shared his beliefs. On Sundays, they drove to another neighboring town that has a population of about 3000. There were 6 other families in that town that comprised of their branch.
That being said, there were not many opportunities to socialize with friends who had common beliefs. They were good people, but just didn't have the same religious values. Shortly after graduating from high school, he was hanging out with his closes group of friends. They were all joking around and playing, when he was caught off guard. One of his dear friends pulled out a Book of Mormon and asked if he would read a passage or two to them. He was not prepared.
Unlike the pirates of old, he could not remove the patch and close one eye. You seek, his friend was handing him a lit candle and asking him to magnify its light. Instead, he took a deep breath and blew out the candle. Instead of letting his light shine, he left his closest friends in the dark.
I have been wondering what we do with the candles that are handed to us. Are we blowing them out? Or do we surround them with magnifying glasses that would increase the glow and power of our flames?
Comparing the two stories, I wonder what would be better, to walk in the dark with a patch or a candle/lantern always shine, no matter how dark it is?
What do you think? Patch or Lantern.
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