The Church Of The Holy Rood      --      Wool, Dorset, U.K.

This month our Parish Magazine features the following guest editorial, kindly contributed by  Seoras Mackenzie, the Army Chaplain in Bovington:

Padre’s Ponderings

The British Army has six Core Values: Selfless Commitment, Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Loyalty and Respect for Others. They are intended to shape a soldier’s attitudes and actions in such a way that his conduct will always be worthy of the Army; and of the British people.

I believe Respect for Others to be the key value in the list. Treat people like they matter. Speak to them as you would like to be spoken to yourself. The payback can be significant: Those who feel they are valued members of the team will willingly give that little bit extra when required.  Enemy forces are more likely to surrender to an Army renowned for its fair treatment of prisoners of war.

There is, of course, a more fundamental reason for having Respect for Others as a core value. We should treat people like they matter; because they matter. The Bible teaches that we are made in the image of God. It follows that we, and others, are worthy of respect. Jesus said “love your neighbour as you love yourself”. Place the same value on others as you place on yourself.

Given that by ‘neighbour’ Jesus meant, pretty much, anyone you could have anything to do with; this is a tall order. I can all too easily think of occasions when I have failed to put it into practice. The order still stands and the challenge to keep on plugging away at it remains. It’s just the right thing to do. As a secondary result, the payback can be significant. Someone might even respect you for it.

Seoras Mackenzie.

Army Chaplain, Bovington.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 20 July 2010