1. THE LIFE SAVING STATION Theodore Wedel

2. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little lifesaving station.

3. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat,

4. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea.

5. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
With no thought for themselves they went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost.

6. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work.

7. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little life saving station grew.

8. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
Some members of the life saving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped.

9. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea.

10. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
They placed the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building.

11. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
Now the life saving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely because they used it as a sort of club.

12. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on life saving mission, so they hired life boat crews to do this work. The life saving motif still prevailed in this club’s decoration and there was liturgical lifeboat in the room where the club initiations were held.

13. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the tired crew brought in boatloads of cold, wet, and half–drowned people. They were dirty and sick; and some of them had black or yellow skin.

14. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
The beautiful new club was in chaos.
So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where the victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside

15. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club.

16. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
Some members insisted upon life saving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called life saving station

17. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
But they were finally voted down

18. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
and told that, if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did.

19. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
As the years passed, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded.

20. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
History continued to repeat itself and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore

21. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.

22. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
PHASE ONE
Members Single- minded, focused on the mission, near to the people, skilled in RESCUE –OPERATIONS
Structures Simple, just the required equipments and structure
Values Service, dedication, simplicity,

23. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
PHASE TWO - Rescue work delegated to hired hands!
Members Additional members, appearance of PROPERTY COMMITTEE, Emphasis on administration, distant from people
Structures More comfortable buildings, life saving station becomes a CLUB, appearance of trappings of modern living.
Values : Comfort, luxury, pleasure, …

24. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
PHASE THREE – DECADENCE
Members Strong differences regarding goals, administration, style of living,..
Structures Complex luxurious structures away from the sea where shipwrecks occur
Values Self-interest , individualism,..

25. THE LIFE SAVING STATION
PHASE FOUR :
More shipwrecks , more lifesaving stations and more deaths by drowning!

26. Points for reflection What does this parable say
about my congregation/community/organisation?
How is my life-style?
How close am I to the people I serve?
How is the quality of my service?
Are we members of the
“property committee” or “rescuers” ?
HOW ABOUT OUR TRAPPINGS OF MODERN LIFE?
OUR FOCUS/PRIMARY CONCERN?
OUR SINGLE-MINDEDNESS?

27. This programme is the copyright of Fr. Gilbert Choondal, sdb
This programme is the copyright of Fr. Gilbert Choondal, sdb. You are free to use ths for non-commercial purposes. If you use commercially (either in parts, full or changed format), please do get his permission.
Fr. Gilbert Choondal, sdb
Kristu Jyoti College,
Krishna Raja Puram Post
Bangalore –
Karnataka
India
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