I have a very specific memory that has stuck in my mind. Strange how that is because it happened in the 1970’s and it wasn’t my experience, I just observed it, but it is warmly lodged in my memory. It happened in Newfoundland and it was at a great regional meeting of The Salvation Army due to the visit of The General, Arnold Brown.

Partway through the gathering, the General walked to the microphone and asked if Lt Colonel Ed Read was in the room. Two things – at the point he was Major Ed Read, and secondly, he wasn’t in the room. His wife and family were sitting in one of those small box seats on the side of the auditorium. All eyes went to where they were clearly visible. A shout came from the box….” he’s gone to the washroom” !!

Just then, the door to the box opened, and he stepped back into the room as we all watched, eyes going from the General on the stage and what was playing out in the box.

Of course, what the General wanted to do was surprise him with a promotion from Major to Lt Colonel. He was surprised! Surprised that he stepped out to use the washroom and was now the centre of attention, and now, of course, recognizing that he was receiving a promotion.

Surprise!

I’ve been in lots of meetings snce then. Some memorable, some not so much. I’ve been in the room when The General of the day wanted to greet each of us, and when they didn’t want to greet any of us.

This General, Lyndon Buckingham, is highly engaging and highly personable. He wants to meet people.

I wasn’t thinking of him this visit, I was thinking about Major James Watt. An unsung hero of The Salvation Army. He and his wife Betty served in Africa, in what is now Zimbabwe, during the civil war and stayed and served both rebels and soldiers. They worked tirelessly, believing that God was providing in ways that cannot be understood or explained by man. Jim is a talented artist, a theologian, an astronomer, a medical doctor and a Salvation Army officer. He developed health standards that the government adopted into their legislation. He developed a bush medicine course for the university.

And when he returned to Canada, he quietly and independently went about Aids patients.

So knowing that The General was coming to Canada, I put forth a proposal to award Jim with the Order of The Founder. And it was accepted, and he was awarded this! I’m so thrilled for him. Thrilled for the family who gets to celebrate this with him. He should have received this years ago, but now is better than never.