My Brother's Keeper

Where are the men?

Hope we learn from this story... I call it The PLUMB PARACHUTE...

Charles Plumb was a fighter pilot in Vietnam. After dozens of combat missions, a missile destroyed his plane. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy territory. He was captured and spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. He survived that ordeal and now lectures about lessons learned from that experience. One of his favorite stories illustrates the importance of seemingly small contributions.


One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did – if your 'chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. He thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each parachute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, on his speaking tour, Plumb asks his audience, “Who's packing your parachute?”

We all have someone who provides what we need to make it through the day. Who is counting on you to lend a hand or otherwise support their efforts? Perhaps more importantly, have you thanked those individuals who have contributed to your success?
 
At the end of the day we should be able to ask ourself this simple question: AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER OR AM I MY BROTHERS KILLER?