Newport Navalog

Bible's Short-Timers
By Chaplain John C. Cavendish

The "short timer" or the short-timer attitude is one that we are all familiar with. A sailor with this attitude is a disappointment to the Navy and a discredit to himself. He has failed to grasp the importance and manliness of accepting responsibility whether voluntarily or when it is thrust upon him by circumstances beyond his control. The short-timer attitude is one of avoiding responsibility wherever and whenever it presents itself; of regarding duty in the Navy as only a temporary interruption to his freedom. The short-timer is a day dreamer who looks always to greener pastures: he refuses to settle down and dig in and make a contribution for the sake of the welfare of the whole group. Unfortunately, the short-timer usually carries this attitude throughout life, always day dreaming of better days with better opportunities.

It is not surprising then, that even in the Bible days, 2,500 years ago, the short-timer attitude was the topic of a sermon or message of the Prophet Jeremiah. In this particular circumstance, the Prophet was speaking to a large group of Israelites who had been taken to Babylonia in order that the emperor Nebuchadnezzar could be assured that the balance of power between himself and the Egyptian emperor would not be disturbed as in the past by the Jews allying themselves with the Egyptians. Whole cities and families of Jews had been moved to a new country. They were not restrained in pursuing their natural talents. As a matter of fact they were encouraged to make themselves at home. However, in the midst of the Jews there were some men who kept the peace of the community disturbed and unsettled by refusing to settle down to making a living and ordering their lives around their new surroundings and taking advantage of the peace and opportunities provided them to make a useful existence and a pleasant life for the benefit of the whole community. These "short-timers kept the people demoralized by saying to them that they would soon be going back home so why get involved or show any interest. Jeremiah had a different attitude. In Chapter 29 of the Book of Jeremiah, beginning at the fourth verse he says, "Build houses and live in them; plant vineyards and eat the fruits of them. He goes on then to further right their attitude by telling them, "Seek the welfare of the land to which you have been carried, pray to the Lord on its behalf for in its welfare you shall find your own welfare." He attacks the short-timer and warns the people against them. "Do not be deluded by the prophets and diviners who are in the midst of you. Listen not to their dreams. When the time is come I will send thee to whence you have come. This can be a reminder to us that the problems of life we face today are not always unique in the history of man. Even with this being so it is comforting to know that a right attitude toward ourselves and our neighbor can ease our life. To accept responsibility for our surroundings; to make the most of opportunities presented to us; to fulfill our daily tasks each day as it is given to us to do; all of these things combined make us a healthy man and a good shipmate.