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Sage Wisdom: Ratcliffe (Canada)
by Colonel Bill
Ratcliffe
JAC: How
has your life changed post-retirement age from a few decades
ago?
The first 15 years of my retirement I
was in charge of Pastoral Care for Glenmore Temple. In the 15
years I had three corps officers so the appointment varied
depending on the officer. Basically I assisted the corps
officer as requested. Hospital visits, nursing home visits,
conducting chapel services and hymn sings. Assisted with the
Sunday morning services, one office said you are like my corps
sergeant major. While doing this, at the DC request I visited
four facilities to help with conflict resolution. When the
corps officer went on holidays I was basically in charge.
Since this was a part time position I was also free to accept
invitations to conduct camp meetings, officers retreats,
family camps and seniors camps, both in Canada and the USA.
The last nine years I have been in
Linden, AB, one hour and 20 minutes from Calgary. Complete
change, this is a Mennonite community of about 800 people. I
have an apartment at a seniors residents. My daughter and her
family live in this village. I am known as Carolyn's dad, and
a retired Pastor. Little is know of the Salvation Army,
basically Christmas kettles and Thrift Stores. Very few think
of the Salvation Army as a Church. Some have asked where do
you go to worship on Sunday. No idea of our work
internationally, and most have never seen a uniform. So it is
a different ministry. I'm
available for counselling at the Lodge. I assist with
the weekly hymn sing, I have been asked to speak at the
Mennonite church on occasion, and also at the service at the
Lodge. The staff and nursing staff have approached me for
prayer and family concerns. I still go into Glenmore Temple
every Sunday, and help with the services there. I also take
time to visit with family in BC, Ontario, Newfoundland.
Until my wife passed away 8 years ago I
was not fully aware how much I depended on her for guidance,
emotional support, a second opinion, an honest answer, a
loving response, a spiritual partner, to love and to be loved,
to hold and to be held. After 15 months in a nursing home the
Lord took my wife, Marion, to her heavenly home.
JAC: What did 'missional'
look like for you a generation ago?
How does it look now?
A generation ago I was fully immersed
in every aspect of ministry at Glenmore Temple. Traveling a
great deal to conduct services. Now, less structure and more
flexibility. More time for devotional life, more time in
prayer, more time for phone visitation. There are many unsaved
in the Lodge, I try to be available to as many as possible.
Some seek me out for advice and prayer, others avoid the
retired Pastor. My ministry has changed in many ways since
moving here.
JAC: What lessons you learned
have stood the test of time?
How are they still relevant in your life?(which
didn't?)
My priorities have changed drastically,
there is time for my devotional life and prayer life. There is
time for family life. I must make time for unsaved family. I
must be sensitive to family members who are unwell and need
more care. Time management allows me to keep in touch with
close friends, many of them officers retired like myself.
There is time now to keep in touch with many people that I
have know through the years. But also keep in touch with
people from Glenmore Temple who look to me for support and
guidance. My daily prayer is to be available. To be less
critical of Army leadership, and more prayerful on behalf of
them.
JAC: What would you have done
differently back in the day if you knew then what you know
now?
From my 15 years in Pakistan, my years
as divisional commander in Bermuda and my 6 years in charge of
Pastoral Care in the Territory, there are many things I would
have done differently. I would endeavor to be less critical,
more prayerful, more forgiving, more affirming, more patient,
more of a listening ear, more seeking advise, more pastoral
care of my family, I wish I been able to study more, take more
courses. If I had my time over, I would be cautious of hasty
decisions, popular decisions, be more aware of cultural
expectations, especially in Bermuda and Pakistan.
From my six years in Pastoral care I should have
listened more, given people a second chance, be more
forgiving, be more compassionate. I should have been more
aware of the need for self care. I always felt I had to be on
duty. In my ministry, if I had the time over I would preach
salvation always, preach holiness, preach the power of the
Holy Spirit, preach from the life of Christ. Preach more from
the book of Acts, preach more on the writing of Paul. Beware
of looking busy, quick to admit mistakes, and learn from them.
I was blessed to have good role models.
My father.
Commissioner Waldron -
I travelled overseas with him for a 12 day tour, and learned
so much from him. Commissioner
Ed Reed, on DHQ staff with him in NFLD, and he came to
Pakistan and lived and traveled with us for 12 days.
Colonel John Hamm, we
were on Divisional staff together on two occasions, and
traveled hundreds of miles together.
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