I love this photo that was posted by a couple of friends this morning on Facebook. The photo was taken in Hamburg in 1936, during the celebrations for the launch of a ship. In the crowd, one person refuses to raise his arm to give the Nazi salute. The man was August Landmesser. He had already been in trouble with the authorities, having been sentenced to two years hard labour for marrying a Jewish woman.
We know little else about August Landmesser, except that he had two children. By pure chance, one of his children recognized her father in this photo when it was published in a German newspaper in 1991. How proud she must have been in that moment.
What an example. It's one thing to resist peer pressure in the neighborhood or at school or church but wow…this kind of resistance at a Nazi celebration?? Talk about courage!
It reminds me of the cover of an old Keith Green album from back in the day. "No Compromise" shows one guy refusing to bow down to the king and the shocked look on the guard's face at the audacity and boldness.
I'll have to admit. This isn't me. Or at least it hasn't been. I'm haven't ever been the one who would take a stand like this. I wanted to get along. I wanted everyone to be happy. I was willing to swallow my own wants and desires in order to keep the peace. Yeah, I've always been the guy who would compromise at the drop of a hat just to get along. Is that just cowardice? I'm starting to think so, yeah.
I think in the coming days it's going to be important that others know what you stand for; both individually and organizationally. 2012…the year to stand up and be counted. Be bold. No compromise.
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