The fear and reward of ‘Standing in the Gap’

By Bradley Beck | Special Contributor The almost empty Town Hall meeting room was soon to be filled with an angry mob. I was, to say the least, anxious. I arrived early so I could sign up to speak first, and get it over with. Just prior to me addressing the Town Council, a representative from Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED) asked if I would present the 300-plus signed petitions of my neighbors who were opposed to an upcoming fracking moratorium proposal in my town. This Town of Erie meeting 10 years ago was to consider banning new oil and gas development in our community. I could not sit on the sideline. Too much was at stake. The Town Trustees were under intense pressure from anti-energy development activists. It was an issue I was ready and willing to address. Energy production jobs were important to the local economy of our little town and to the livelihoods of thousands of individuals who worked in the energy sector in Colorado. Many were my friends. They lived in my community and had families to support. Energy was important to the lifestyle of my neighbors and myself – from heating a home on a minus-20 degree winter day to keeping food cool and fresh in a refrigerator on a sizzling 100-degree summer day. I approached the lectern first and made my three-minute presentation. Add to my trepidation a photographer in the room from a major newspaper. Following my speech, there were applause and jeers, but whatever I said got a positive reaction from the Town Trustees, someof whom were acquaintances. Why did I “stand in the gap”? Because it was the moral thing to do. I had skin in this game, as I worked at a spray paint company and our products were sourced from by-products of oil and gas. I felt certain that by showing up and speaking, I made a difference in how the vote went concerning the moratorium. It was over. Or, so I thought. The following day on my drive to work in Boulder, I nearly ran off the road as I caught a glimpse of a photograph of myself “above the fold” in the sidewalk newsstand of the Daily Camera. I grabbed a handful of quarters and bought the newspapers in the rack, so no one else coming into my work would see my picture. It didn’t work. When I arrived, lying on my desk was the front page of the same paper with a sticky note attached by my former boss. It read, “What’s this about?” I felt like Astro from the Jetsons, “Ruh Roh”. I was somewhat challenged by someone who wanted our company to lay low and not make any disturbances, less we wake the noisy few around us. I was even more determined to ruffle a few feathers. I did not always have this feeling of fortitude. I was more a “go along to get along” person. However, by reading, studying and associating with people who knew information I did not, I felt informed and emboldened. Seven years earlier, I received a phone call from my friend Don Beezley, who informed me he was going to run for Colorado House District 33, where he and I both lived. “Congratulations, Don,” I said. He replied, “Thanks, and I want you to be my financial guy for the campaign.” I continued, “Don, I know nothing about campaign finance.” With humor Don continued, “That’s OK. I mess up, you go to jail. It’s all good”. We both laughed, as I asked, ”When do you need to know?” His reply was, “Tomorrow”. “Ruh Roh”. I agreed to take on the task, but only if we hired a real campaign accounting firm to keep me out of jail. We did and thus began a journey in which we out-worked, out-walked and outwitted the incumbent opponent. Our campaign won that race by 217 votes. It was a squeaker, yet Don stood in the gap for two years slowing down the opposition craziness, and his own party at times. Don’s principles and integrity made my decision to work with him on his campaign an easy yes. Often, it’s the first follower who helps the leader make things happen. In this instance, I was “standing in the gap”. These two personal stories demonstrate how one or just a few people can make a difference. I don’t know if you have the fortitude or the desire to “stand in the gap”. However, I do know it can be done by ordinary people, who know they must do something to make a positive difference in defending the rights of the smallest minority there is, the individual. Here’s my challenge. Are you willing to “stand in the gap”? As Sam Parker reminds us in his book, “212”: “At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train”. Bradley Beck is a husband, father, GrandBrad, Distinguished Toastmaster, Optimist, and 360 Guy. He’s a special contributor to Rocky Mountain Voice. https://rockymountainvoice.com/2024/02/the-fear-and-reward-of-standing-in-the-gap/

Generosity

There is an old story about the lion, the wolf, and the dog. A lion seized upon a doe and was about to have it as a meal. As he was standing over his prize, a wolf stepped up to him, and impudently claimed to get halves. No! said the lion, you are too apt to take what is not your due. I therefore shall never have anything to do with you. In a commanding tone he said, “I insist on your immediate departure out of my sight.” A poor honest dog who happened to be passing by heard what was going on. He modestly withdrew, intending to go about another way upon which the lion kindly invited him to come forward and partake with him of the feast to which his modesty had given him so good a title. The lion was generous with his catch with the dog who recognized his modesty. The lion did not have to share, yet out of benevolence offered the dog some of his meal. The wolf, like the government, often demands and takes what is not theirs by the monopoly of force. Perhaps you have experienced where people left to their own devices are generous with what they produce or acquire through persistence and determination. For some, it is a good feeling they receive by investing in their fellow man or community out of benevolence or charity. For others it’s part of who they are, and the philanthropy built into their business. This is one reason profit is good for business and society. People earn money and can decide to give that money away after their needs are met. They can invest in their philanthropic endeavors. resQ coffees in Longmont, CO is a prime example of this. One morning Lynn was driving down to her coffee bean roasting business, resQ, when she saw the Liberty Toastmasters sign in front of the building where the club was meeting. A few minutes later she appeared with a carafe of uniquely roasted coffee along with cups, cream, stirrers, sugar, coffee tops, and mints; all delivered without expectation of payment and done with delight in giving. When I asked Lynn why she donates to so many other organizations she responded, “Giving is who we are. It’s part of our belief in investing in others.” Lynn, like many people, is authentic and sincere in her giving. People like Lynn, with their conviction and action, are rewarded enough by their generosity, unlike the wolf who commanded by force. Lynn and her company resQ are benevolent. They reap the rewards of giving because they want to, not because they must. It also makes for good business. I am now a customer of resQ coffees. My friend Terri presented a speech at a club contest titled, “People Just Give You Money?” Her speech was about her work at the Colorado Horse Rescue in Longmont, CO. It is a non-profit that started out as a shelter and rehabilitation facility that cared for abused and neglected horses. Today the organization also rehomes horses and educates equine enthusiasts. Terri says, “Think of giving to a non-profit as an investment in your beliefs. You invest, and they do the service that you believe needs to be done. Of course, you can’t invest until you’ve earned capital yourself.” When she is asked, “do people just give you money?” she replies, “No. People invest in a service that they see as important.” Terri understands the generosity of her donors and why they voluntarily give to her organization. Generosity is not just about giving money. For many, it is investing their time in their community service or service clubs. These organizations such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, and my personal favorite, Optimist International, are resources in their community focusing on local needs and take action to fill those needs. As an example, my service club the Optimist Club of Erie is known as “The Friend of Youth.” We focus all our efforts on providing youth in our town with scholarships, school programs, and support. The community can invest by participating in those events and our members invest their time in constructing and executing them. As volunteers we are generous with our time because we see an opportunity to be part of the fabric of our community. The more we do ourselves, the less we need government to intercede in areas where they need not tread. In Dr. Thomas Krannawitter’s book, “An Introduction to Citizenship for New Americans” he explains, the American people must pursue their civic virtues of self-restraint, self-assertion, civic knowledge, and self-reliance. “Political freedom requires limited government – that is, a government that for the most part leaves people alone, while ensuring that their rights are secured. But limited government is risky. When people are left alone, they might be tempted to violate the rights of others, or live irresponsibly, depending on others with money and resources to care for them.” People and organizations that provide a service or fill a need do not tend to not violate rights, rather to make their community a better place. People have all sorts of reasons for being generous with their time, treasure, and talent. If they do their giving without the coercion of force, they are moral and decent in their pursuits. Once someone or a society has an “impudent claim to go halves” and are “too apt to take what is not their due” they become a society that is corrupt, immoral, and evil. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once stated, “Generosity wins favor for everyone. Especially when it is accompanied by modesty.” Bradley is a Husband, Father, GrandBrad, Toastmaster-DTM, Optimist & 360 Guy. He lives in Boulder County. https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/generosity/?vgo_ee=hm3HHFeYEZDfQjEARd5DLO2B9RGN%2BlsTZNCCsvypdCH%2F6CPdtqVEW9vU%3AkhF7X99PiF4z3OBthDE%2FYYY18zBiUZHl