Greetings ST, ‘Ettes, ‘Sieurs, and All!
His Graciously Unleashedness/Unwokeness has asked yours truly to reflect on his transformation from an “international man of mystery” (IMOM) to an instantly recognizable man of action/raconteur known as: “Simon Templar”. Therewith comes a tale.
Let me say at the outset that simplicity suits the truth best. A basis in facts, generously shared, can give creativity space to spread its wings. My earlier efforts to pay homage to ST’s “Lt. Dangerous” episode, led me to expect the unexpected regarding ST’s nom-de-guerre/nom-de-plume/nom-de-pixels. Join me, dear netizens of Unleashed/UnWoke as the story unfolds.
Surprisingly, the quest started off quite matter-of-factly:
First name first: “Simon”. ST isn’t certain where/when this moniker began, (“I’ve always been Simon, just Simon.”) but it stuck. Maybe, it’s from ‘Simon says…’, since his capacity for creative leadership was so close to the surface in his encounters with his “grunts” [enlisted Marines]? I’ll leave the answer to this in the annals of unwritten history, since further speculation about it will lead us further from the rest of the story.
Our background is a series of annual/semi-annual, coordinated drug-interdiction exercises [“Exercise Fuerzas Unidas-Contradrogas Riberena”] with partner nations all up and down the “spine” of the Andean Ridge (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela). Our soundtrack might include the strains of the Andean flute. Our setting (Iquitos, Peru on the Amazon Riverwalk) is a gathering of participants at a celebratory dinner marking the end of one such exercise. In the space between exquisitely-prepared (possibly exotic) foods, well-chosen drinks such as Chilean pisco (brandy), cigars, and camaraderie, anything can happen…
As the evening progressed, an unknown woman, who made her surroundings fade into the background, with a voice as sultry as the night air – and as lilting as a shepherd’s bells – made her way to the table where Simon and others were seated. Casting an appraising glance from one guest to another, her gaze rested on one in particular. She smiled, pointed at him, and said: “And you, you must be Simon… Yes, you are Simon: Simon Templar.”
She left them, as unexpectedly as she had come.
Thus, our Graciously Unleashedness/Unwokeness came to be known as “ST”. (Step aside, Sir Roger Moore.)
ST UnWoked & UnVaxxed! 
Americans have lost their swag.
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There are so many wonderful young Americans, Simon. And old ones too. Hope never fails.
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“Americans have lost their swag.”
Not entirely, ST, as long as you and our mutual friend with the British accent in FL among others, are on the planet. After that, probably so….
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Hebrews 10:23.
There is so much despair in America right now, especially among young people. I refuse to drink from that cup, and I urge others to turn that cup down as well. The Bible commands us to have hope. It’s not a suggestion. It’s a command.
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However, JaC, remember that hope has to accompany a strategy. Otherwise, it’s “not a course of action (COA).”, as someone wise often reminds me. Hope needs roots and wings.
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Yes, that is what Simon says, but is that what the Bible says? Serious question. You know Scripture far better than I do, so I am totally open to being corrected on this, but as far as I know, the Bible doesn’t say that. As far as I know, the Bible commands us to always be hopeful no matter how hopeless things seem. As far as I know, the Bible doesn’t say anything about having to have a strategy.
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I don’t want to be pedantic, but only someone who already has hope can come up with a strategy. If the first strategy fails, only someone with hope will continue on to a second or third strategy.
Apparently, one in three teenage girls in America have thought about suicide in the past year. Do 15 year olds need a well thought out strategy in order to have hope? I don’t think so. The times when hope is most important are the times when no strategy seems possible: hope inspires us to continue on anyway.
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“Faith is the essence of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1-2 Simeon and Anna hoped for the coming of a Savior. Hope sustained the children of Israel in the desert, but they had to gather the manna; Noah built the Ark in response to God’s promise of a new world. Getting up in the morning, etc. is *acting* on hope. “…4and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. 5 Such hope will not be doomed to disappointment, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:4-6
Acting ‘as if’ is sometimes needed to spark hope, that leads to further action. (Just a thought or two.)
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Thank you, Nanda 🙂
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