Principle Before Passion

An article in a recent issue of the U.S. Naval Institute's periodical Proceedings, referenced the move The Karate Kid (the 1984 original), in which a reluctant martial arts sensei, played by the late Pat Morita, teaches an eager student, played by Ralph Macchio.  Mister Miyagi uses some unconventional methods to teach Daniel LaRusso, including the repetitive polishing motion "wax on, wax off."  Though Daniel thought he was performing menial tasks, Miyagi was teaching him a valuable combat skill, which Daniel comes to understand only after expressing his frustration at having spent several days waxing a car, sanding a deck and staining a fence.

The author of the Proceedings article makes the point that "Many military situations require such immediate and refined responses, and repetition builds those skills."  Repetition has been called the soul of all learning.  Zig Ziglar said that a person needs to hear something seven times before they really understand it.  There is certainly some repetition involved in missionary work such as daily scripture study, knocking on doors and praying multiple times a day.

"Yet we need critical thinkers, sailors, Marines, and guardians who aren't always robotic," writes the author.  Neither are missionaries to be automatons.  Daily scripture study is important because one must learn God's word before they can teach His word.  Though there may be some common answers to common concerns, there are also situations where a missionary must rely on the Spirit to bring to their rembrance something they have previously learned.  Missionary work is not a paint by numbers project, often the unexpected can happen.

Miyagi told Daniel on multiple occasions in The Karate Kid that "Not everything is as seem."  He was encouraging his student to search for the purpose behind the task, to think critically by suggesting there might be a hidden meaning in each seemingly pointless experience.

Miyagi had some more lessons to impart to Daniel in the sequel The Karate Kid Part II (1986), when the pair visited the island of Okinawa.  The teacher explained to the student that he left Okinawa to avoid a fight with a rival whose parents had arranged a marriage to the woman Miyagi loved.  Daniel could not understand why Miyagi, who was the better fighter, allowed himself to be viewed as a coward.  "Never put passion before principle," answered Miyagi.  Facing the challenge of his rival would have forced him to violate his principles, and for Miyagi this would be worse than being considered a coward.

As Miyagi put it, "Even if win, you lose," when you violate your own principles.

The author of the Proceeding's article noted that these lessons are relevant in the Sea Services, and "we have countless examples of when they are ignored.  Too many leaders have been relieved for cause after putting passion before principle.  Whether that passion is power, greed, status, sex, or money, placing them before principles causes the loss of honor -- even when you get away with it.  Rewards won through passion are temporary, but principles are everlasting."

Which is what Miyagi taught Daniel when he said, "In Okinawa, honor have no time limit."

Missionaries may be tempted to think that some of the rules are pointless, or perhaps their passion will lead them to break the rules.  Missionaries may break the rules and get away with it, or they may not, either way they lose.  Though repentance is possible, regaining lost honor and integrity is not easy.  

Personal development, for a missionary or a sailor, includes lessons about core values, "and examples exist in unexpected places," writes the author.  "These movies showed how honor results from having the courage to maintain commitment to one's values, never putting passion before principle."

Make the commitment now to live the mission rules, to keep the commandments, and to work hard -- to give it everything you've got "every hour, every day, every minute, all the way" (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland address at MTC, August 24, 2010).  Exercise courage when that commitment is challenged, as challenged it will be, so that you may return home with honor.  Think critically and look for hidden meanings or purposes behind each seemingly pointless rule or experience.  When the day of trial comes, put principle before passion.


Source:

Murphy. J. (2013). "From the Deckplates: Principle Before Passion." Proceedings, Vol. 139/2.