The Dreamworks movie “The Croods” is a story about a family of Neanderthals who hope to survive prehistoric life and a series of cataclysmic events with the family motto, “always be afraid.” (They end up changing their outlook, of course, learn to take risk and innovate.) The movie is essentially a story about overcoming “negativity bias,” the notion that “bad is stronger than good.” This theory argues that we tend to remember negative events more clearly than positive ones, that negative episodes in a relationship have greater impact than positive ones, and that we learn more from negative things than from positive. As we enter cataclysmic times, we may have the same tendency as the Croods to cling to fear and the familiar. We need examples to encourage us. We can find inspiration in the volunteers among us who give the most precious thing that they possess on behalf of others: their time. They exemplify the Latin phrase I learned from my brother/scholar, “Signa proferre:” “Colors to the front.”
At a recent luncheon sponsored by the USO honoring military volunteers, we heard of junior soldiers, sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who worked in homeless shelters, and delivered meals for underprivileged. We met one young Marine sergeant who started her own non-profit to link at-risk school children with mentors in the uniformed services. There are remarkable people all around us who have stepped forward during these challenging times. They represent all of our volunteers: those from the USO, from the Red Cross and from countless other organizations across the Nation representing a quarter of our population. They are standard bearers who have responded to the challenge, “Signa proferre:” “Colors to the front.”
In the Roman Army each unit had its own unique standard or “signum,” a pole adorned with metal disks, and lunar crescents, perhaps topped with leather strips, a wreath, or metal hand. Often the discs bore the letters “SPQR:” “Senatus Populusque Romanus” (“The Senate and the People of Rome”). The Roman legionnaires were inspired as they entered battle by remembering that they represented the government and the people of Rome. The signum was carried by a soldier who had the honor of bearing the standard called the “signifier.” This soldier was lightly armed, and wore the fur and head of a bear or a wolf on his helmet to set him apart. The signifer served as the model of sacrifice and courage and set the example for the soldiers. When it was time for the unit to move, for the unit to prepare for battle, or for the unit to regroup before returning to the fight, the commander called, “Signa proferre:” “Colors to the front.” And the signifier, carrying the sacred standard, stepped forward.
Victor Frankl was a psychiatrist who survived the concentration camps of World War II and founded the school of psychology called “logotherapy.” He wrote in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” “At any moment each of us must decide, for better or worse, what will be the monument of our existence.” Make no mistake; each of us will have a monument. Every encounter, everything that we do leaves a monument in the minds of others. What will the epitaph on our monument be? “He played it safe.” “He was cautious.” “He lived a quiet life,” or “She had a risk-free retirement.” Perhaps we might even inscribe the motto of the Crood family: “Always be afraid.”
We have as examples those from our midst who have stepped forward as volunteers. They give of themselves, their resources and most importantly, their time on behalf of others. It is not all altruism, to be sure. There is honor in carrying the signa ahead for the rest of us. But their monument and epitaph is one of courage, of sacrifice, of a willingness to share themselves on behalf of others.
I confess to being inspired and challenged. “Signa proferre:” “Colors to the front.” We see them move forward, and so we gird ourselves, pick up our shields and spears and follow.
Sincere thanks to the volunteers among us: for carrying our colors, for reminding us what it means to sacrifice, and for always leading from the front.
Chuck Callahan Henry V 4.3 – Lead from the Front https://henryv43.wordpress.com/
Henry V 4.3 