On a rocky seacoast where shipwrecks were frequent there was once a ramshackle
little life-saving station. It was no more than a hut and there was only one boat,
but the few people who manned the station were a devoted lot who kept constant
watch over the sea and, with little regard for themselves and their safety, went
fearlessly out in a storm if they had any evidence that there had been a shipwreck
somewhere. Many lives were thus saved and the station became famous.
As the fame of the station grew, so did the desire of people in the neighbourhood
to become associated with its excellent work. They generously offered of their
time and money so new members were enrolled, new boats bought and new crews
trained. The hut too was replaced by a comfortable building which could adequately
handle the needs of those who had been saved from the sea and, of course, since
shipwrecks do not occur every day, it became a popular gathering place-a sort of
local club. As time passed the members became so engaged in socializing that they
had little interest in life-saving, though they duly sported the life-saving motto
on the badges they wore. As a matter of fact, when some people were actually
rescued from the sea, it was always such a nuisance because they were dirty and
sick and soiled the carpeting and the furniture.
Soon the social activities of the club became so numerous and the life-saving
activities so few that there was a show-down at a club meeting with some members
insisting that they return to their original purpose and activity. A vote was
taken and these troublemakers, who proved to be a small minority, were invited to
leave the club and start another.
Which is precisely what they did-a little further down the coast, with such
selflessness and daring that, after a while, their heroism made them famous.
Whereupon their membership was enlarged, their hut was reconstructed and their
idealism smothered. If you happen to visit that area today you will find a number
of exclusive clubs dotting the shoreline. Each one of them is justifiably proud of
its origin and its tradition. Shipwrecks still occur in those parts, but nobody
seems to care much.
🙂
On a rocky seacoast where shipwrecks were frequent there was once a ramshackle
little life-saving station. It was no more than a hut and there was only one boat,
but the few people who manned the station were a devoted lot who kept constant
watch over the sea and, with little regard for themselves and their safety, went
fearlessly out in a storm if they had any evidence that there had been a shipwreck
somewhere. Many lives were thus saved and the station became famous.
As the fame of the station grew, so did the desire of people in the neighbourhood
to become associated with its excellent work. They generously offered of their
time and money so new members were enrolled, new boats bought and new crews
trained. The hut too was replaced by a comfortable building which could adequately
handle the needs of those who had been saved from the sea and, of course, since
shipwrecks do not occur every day, it became a popular gathering place-a sort of
local club. As time passed the members became so engaged in socializing that they
had little interest in life-saving, though they duly sported the life-saving motto
on the badges they wore. As a matter of fact, when some people were actually
rescued from the sea, it was always such a nuisance because they were dirty and
sick and soiled the carpeting and the furniture.
Soon the social activities of the club became so numerous and the life-saving
activities so few that there was a show-down at a club meeting with some members
insisting that they return to their original purpose and activity. A vote was
taken and these troublemakers, who proved to be a small minority, were invited to
leave the club and start another.
Which is precisely what they did-a little further down the coast, with such
selflessness and daring that, after a while, their heroism made them famous.
Whereupon their membership was enlarged, their hut was reconstructed and their
idealism smothered. If you happen to visit that area today you will find a number
of exclusive clubs dotting the shoreline. Each one of them is justifiably proud of
its origin and its tradition. Shipwrecks still occur in those parts, but nobody
seems to care much.
🙂