Right Full Rudder! – Being Dad with Phil Lower, October 3, 2022

One of my favorite movies in recent memory is Tom Hank’s Greyhound. It’s a fantastic story about an older US Navy Officer that has his first command during World War II. He’s charged with escorting a convoy of soldiers and material to England for the war effort.

During the crossing the convoy enters part of the North Atlantic that has no Allied air cover and thus they are in greater danger from the Nazi U-boat wolf packs.

In their first engagement, a U-boat is discovered sneaking up on the convoy and Greyhound engages. As the U-boat dives, Tom Hank’s character orders his destroyer to turn in the opposite direction of the U-boat in order to fool them.

His crew is noticeably questioning his order.

His hunch pays off when they swing right over the U-boat’s position and they sink it.

During another battle they used too many depth charges because of a German underwater decoy. That decision led to the captain having to learn quickly and adjust combat tactics. The over use of those valuable depth charges would almost lead to the crew’s death on two occasions later in the movie.

This is a great example of the difference in how we make our decisions, how other people perceive our decisions, and how we can learn to adjust.

Passive indecisive actions lead to regression, mental illness, and death.

Destructive decisions lead to negative momentum like putting a hard break on your progress.

Constructive decisions lead to positive momentum and growth.

Thoughts from 1 Corinthians 3:19

Email me at [email protected]