“Never leave your wingman!”  When I heard those words spoken to Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun, I remember thinking, why was that so important?  I soon found that the most crucial relationship and group dynamic is exemplified in a jet fighter squadron.  The reality is that when you are traveling at mach speed, your action and reaction to your partner is a matter of life and death.  We can draw many principles and examples from this scenario.  The most meaningful to me is that leaving is dangerous and sometimes destructive to others.

 

 However, leaving someone has also been made to be humorous.  The song, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” was one of the songs that recommended some suggestions of how to end a relationship.  Movies, Television, Magazines, etc., have all revealed and portrayed the stories of failed marriages, relationships, and even the closing of corporations.  Suffice to say, leaving affects all of us.

 

Because of this, I have decided to be the cheerleader of what it takes to remain in a relationship, and enjoy the longevity of those you love and work with, even for community transformation.  I hope you enjoy some brevity as we take a close look at longevity, and be encouraged and challenged not to leave those who are with you.

 

One last thing I want to say about the movie, “Top Gun.”  In the beginning Tom Cruise said, “I feel the need for speed!”  At the end, he became the hero when he refused to leave his wingman.  

 

Refusing to leave is essential in community transformation!