I’m on my own personal 30 Day Challenge, and I’ve thinking about the support from friends and associates that I’ve received over the past few years.  I’ve reflected with gratitude on the generosity, kindness and time they’ve given to me. 

And I am now asking myself what I in turn do for others, rather than focussing purely on my own challenges, hopes and desires.

This week we’ve been celebrating 70 years since Dunkirk.  The ‘miracle of deliverance’ for over 330,000 troops rescued from the beaches on France.  A  flotilla of vessels comprising thousands of pleasure cruisers, holiday steamers and fishing boats were requisitioned and sent to France with hastily conscripted ratings made up of ordinary men and women.  They were given a naval ranking for just one month to do the unthinkable – rescue thousands of soldiers retreating from the advancing German army in the summer of 1940.

Amongst them was my Grandfather Harold.  He ran a rope making factory in Brixham with his wife Dorothy.  He had strong links to the sea having spent the early part of his career as a Navigator in the Merchant Navy.  He volunteered to go with his pleasure cruiser, normally reserved for taking what he called the ‘Gin & Tonic’ brigade out into the solent at weekends.  We never called him Grandad – possibly because of his links to his experiences at Dunkirk we gave him the nickname ‘Grenade’.

We each of us, no exceptions – at some point in our lives are faced with our own ‘Dunkirk’ – running away, or retreating from failed relationships, illness, career disasters and financial catastrophes for example. 

And if you’re lucky, two or three brave souls will step forward to rescue you offer advice, support or a shoulder to cry on.

During the Second World War,  the retreating British soldiers, once they reached Dunkirk and the sea - were given renewed  hope.  A renewed strength to keep going – despite hunger, thirst and exhaustion.

In these pressing times brought on by the recession – not only is it your duty to yourself and others not to give up – but to look beyond to the horizon.  Because the future beckons. 

When you focus your thoughts on the future,  regardless of what is the reality today – you open up your mind for signs and new ways of dealing with an ongoing problem.  And when you do this, you can manifest more options and create opportunities.  Thus when you feel more hopeful you can then take action.

These signs may not be a ship, but it could be a hunch, an opportunity out of the blue, or some reassuring words from a friend.   We all need that spark that keeps us going when all seems lost.

So, my question is do you have that Dunkirk spirit…?  And if you’ve got it, what’s your mission to help someone else?  Today we call it ‘random acts of kindness’ don’t we?  But at the end of the day it’s the same thing.

Winston Churchill, in his rousing speeches may have had only words at his disposal to rally the nation.  What words and actions can you call forth to support, encourage and motivate someone in your life who’s stranded on the beach with no hope of deliverance?

For my Grandfather, his holiday excursion to hell was accompanied by an aeriel bombardment and machine gun fire.  Despite this he was able to rescue a handful of soldiers, but was himself rescued by a Destroyer when they got into difficulties on the way back.

Safely on board he asked the Commander “what’s going to happen to my little ship?”  – the Commander turned to him and said “I’ll tell you what we’ll do”…and turned the guns on his little boat and blew it out of the water.  He used to tell us this story when we were kids – so whether he embelished the story slightly to make it more exciting we’ll never know as he passed away in 1979.

In the middle of a crisis – the loss of his boat was actually a rare moment of of levity.  They were just relieved to be picked up by the Navy and returned home safely.

So – even if you think you haven’t got the time, the resources or the energy – what’s YOUR mission in life to help other people?

Leave your comments below – I’d love to know!