From the Barber's Chair: Tactical Thinking Covers All of Life

You should not relegate tactical thinking to only the crisis events. Unless you make it habitual mindset that covers all your life, you may not be able to summon it for the big events.

As a case in point, I recently received this email from my barber. It's a tactical debrief after one of life's mundane crises. (minor editing, chiefly to protect identities & location)

Whenever there is an major incident, first responders hold a debrief to analyze what happened, the response, and what can be done to improve.  Here's mine from today....

For over 30 years we have kept an outside key to our house in a secreted location.  We have been renovating our home, and the key has been on my desk in my office for weeks.

We have a barn cat that I feed at 0730 every morning.  I did not do my exercise walk today, so I dressed for the shop.  Jeans and t-shirt.  Returning from the barn, I found the door to my house locked.  And I had to go to the bathroom when I went to the barn.  Bacon defrosting in the sink.  TV on.  No cell phone.  Empty pockets. No EDC bag.  A slight shiver of panic swept my mind.

I walked down to the in-laws.  They did not have a key to our house, and my sister-in-law had to leave for work in Danville.  I walked to our neighbors.  The neighbor gave me a phone to call [wife], a cup of coffee in a travel cup, and loaned me their car to drive to the . . . hospital [where she works] to get a key.

Driving to and from [town], I reviewed this incident, here is my take on it.

When the SHTF, you need good neighbors.  We have them!

Neighbors who are followers of Christ are even better.  They are!

My neighbor gave me coffee.  Those who refresh others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

God was looking out for me during this entire incident.  Despite having the clothes on my back, and empty pockets, the Lord supplied a phone, a key, a coffee, and a car.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  (2 Corinthians 9:8)

On the drive up I got to thinking, here I am with no driver's license, driving a car that is not mine, what if I got pulled over right now, I don't even have the neighbor's phone number!  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.  (Psalm 121:8)

When I arrived at the hospital, I stopped to assist an elderly lady into a wheelchair.  There is always an opportunity to serve the Lord, no matter what our circumstances be.

Have a back-up plan.  I didn't.  Seek the Lord's favor daily in Prayer.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  (Colossians 3:17)  That's why I am sending this report.