It was the last time I

would be with him in the old ways that had lasted for

over 18 years. Significant changes were about to take

place and I felt that I had to have some words of wisdom

for him as I drove him to the drop-off point.

In just a few more miles,

my little boy - not so little now - my youngest

child would begin the journey to Lackland Air Force Base

near San Antonio, Texas and a 6-year enlistment in the

United States Air Force.

James had informed us of

his intentions a month before his birthday, four months

prior to his high school graduation. Now, he was about to

step out of the shelter of our home and into an abrupt

and possibly jarring adulthood. So, what advice could I

give him in the next 12 miles?

"James," I said.

"I want to give you three simple secrets to success

in life and in the Air Force. For the rest of your life,

you will be solely responsible for tasks and projects

assigned to you and will be accountable to somebody

directly over you. As someone who has had employees under

him and a superior over him, I want to give you some

advice that will work for you, wherever you go."

In a nutshell, here is the

advice I shared during those last few moments with my

son: Rule Number 1 - "Do your job to the best of

your ability, every single time"

Louis Graham, chief of

police for Fulton County, shared three secrets of success

at a police academy graduation. Simply put, he said to

the new officers, "Show up to work. Show up to work

on time. Show up to work on time and do something

remotely related to the job. If you do this, you will be

ahead of 95 percent of the work force and will be on the

fast track to promotion."

I laughed at the simplicity

of his message, yet, at the same time, grieved that his

words rang true. In my own work experience, I knew scores

of men and women who saw it as their goal in life to

"beat the company" and shirk their work and

responsibilities. I have had dozens of employers in the

last few years lament that the biggest problem they have

is finding employees who will actually work!

Recently, I drove through

the drive-thru lane of a fast food restaurant in my area.

The young lady at the window appeared bored, surly, and

seemed irritated that she actually had to sell me her

store's product. It took four requests and repeated

checking of the bag before the order was finally correct.

I was angry at the management for retaining such a

person, yet, I know that such an employee is all too

typical. "Do your job, James. Do it well."

Rule Number 2 - "Be

loyal to your superior." During those times that I

have had people working for me, I valued loyalty. I

wanted to be able to turn my back on the person and not

have it stabbed. In the ministry, I have seen associate

pastors and others undermine their senior pastors and, by

doing so, destroy their own careers. Sometimes, they even

destroyed the churches they thought they were helping in

their disloyalty.

In Vietnam, a few

disgruntled soldiers murdered their officers by tossing a

grenade in their tent, an event known as

"fragging." These selfish and disloyal traitors

not only destroyed their superiors but helped lose a war

for their country. A disloyal employee is no better than

the Roman official Brutus who, pretending to be loyal to

his friend, helped dastardly men plunge the knives into

the writhing body of Julius Caesar. "Make sure you

are always loyal, James. By your actions, let your

superiors know that they can trust you."

Rule Number 3 - "Make

your superiors look good." Once, an associate

minister asked me what his most important job was.

"Your most important job," I replied, "is

to make me look good." He was shocked by my reply,

expecting more of a spiritual reply, I suppose. But the

simple fact is that I hired this person because I needed

his help in the area of his expertise. He, as all

associates I have retained, was hired by me to help me do

my job better.

If the day ever came when

he did not make me look good to my people, that is the

day he became a liability, rather than an asset. That

would be the day I ceased to need his services. Every

employer I have ever talked to about this subject feels

the same way.

The truth is, if an

employee does his job well, is loyal and trustworthy, and

makes his employer look good to his superiors or

customers, that employee will reap the rewards in

appreciation, promotions, and financial considerations

- unless, of course, the boss is a fool. And, sadly,

some bosses are. But, for the most part, superiors who

are intelligent are more than willing to reward employees

who help them reach their goals.

There were times that,

because of tight finances at some of the churches I

pastored, I refused a raise. However, those under me who

understood the rules reaped rewards year after year. I

shared with James that, as an example, in my current

relationship with my bishops, my goals are to do

everything assigned to me to the best of my ability

- perhaps, even to exceed expectations; to be a man

that the bishops can feel good about and someone they can

trust to "watch their backs"; and to help them

look good in every circumstance whenever I can.

I had to admit that, in

days gone by, I had not always been such a man. Some

lessons are learned the hard way, but lessons learned

late are still lessons learned.

When I watched him walk

away from me into his future, I knew that, whatever came,

the rest of his life was now up to him. But I am full of

confidence. For the last 18 years, James, for the most

part, has always done what I have asked him to do. I have

almost always been able to trust him. And, I have to

admit, he has made me look like a pretty good dad.

He has had a good start. I

believe he will finish well. He knows the rules.

[Father

David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic

Episcopal Church. He may be contacted online at [email protected] or at P. O. Box

2192, Peachtree City, GA 30269.

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