Are There Tools We Need To Drop?
By Dan Holloway
In his book Think Again, author Adam Grant introduces his readers to a group of firefighters who tragically lose their lives while fighting wildfires. In nearly every case, the loss of these lives came when the winds suddenly changed direction on the firefighters, blowing the fires toward those who had originally been pursuing the fires and attempting to put them out. One such loss of life took place on Storm King Mountain in Colorado in 1994, where high winds caused a fire to suddenly explode across a gulch. In an attempt to escape this fire, the firefighters did the only thing they knew to do, which was to turn and run for their lives; yet, fourteen firefighters on Storm King Mountain lost their lives, despite only being about 200 feet from the top of the ridge where there was a strong possibility of safety.
Later, investigators learned that those who had lost their lives generally made one tragic mistake. They ran while also continuing to carry the tools that they had always used to fight fires, including things like chainsaws and back packs full of other gear. Investigators believe that they would have run 15 to 20% faster had they simply cast aside their tools and backpacks. “Most would have lived if they had simply dropped all excess weight and run for their lives,” according to one expert. The U.S. Forest Service did its own review and came to the same conclusion. It was their inability to let go of the normal tools of their trade that led to their demise.
As Grant suggests in his book, there were likely several things involved in their decision not to drop their tools. One can reasonably conclude they were first running on auto-pilot as they ran from the fire and were not even aware that they were still carrying their tools and other weighty items. Under such duress we can only imagine how difficult it would be to think logically and to drop the tools that normally served to save our lives. But it turns out that it was more than just that. There were some who did drop their tools and did survive. Yet even for those who made such a decision, it nevertheless proved to be a hard choice. How do you lay down the tools that previously saved your life and allowed you to succeed at what you had come to do? One survivor said, “I lost precious moments deciding what to do with my 25 pound chainsaw. What if I still needed it? It was hard to let go of the tools that had saved me in the past.”
Reflecting on this, Grant writes, “If you’re a firefighter, dropping your tools doesn’t just require you to unlearn habits and disregard instincts. Discarding equipment means admitting failure and rethinking part of your identity. You have to rethink your purpose in life at that very moment.”
Despite occasional bouts of conflict, most would acknowledge that ministry is not nearly as hazardous as the experience of the firefighters just described. While we all have bad days and sometimes very bad days, we all should remember and give thanks for those who truly put their lives on the line every day when they go to work. It does seem there is a lesson here for those of us who sometimes find the winds of cultural approval and support turning against us. There are tools that we may need to drop if we are to renegotiate our purpose and find new meaning in our calling from God. Our ways of thinking can become habits that weigh us down and lead to loss of joy and hope. We do the things we know how to do well even when they produce very limited results and don’t bother to examine them until we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis.
It is a useful practice to ask ourselves from time to time, “What are the tools I really need to do ministry in this time and place? What are the habits and routines that help to introduce others to the love of Jesus Christ? Conversely, what are the practices that I engage in religiously that, if I am honest, seem to produce very little spiritual fruit? What things do I need to accentuate and which do I need to remove from my toolbox of ministry, or at the very least give less emphasis? These are not easy questions and are best asked in the company of trusted and supportive colleagues and friends. They are not meant to induce guilt but rather to clarify best practice. Good questions are among the best tools for understanding and clarifying our call. What are the tools that are most useful for you these days?