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The most valuable thing I possess is my sense of humour All kinds of people attend, join, volunteer with or work for The Salvation Army. We’ve asked some to tell us about themselves. This week… MAJOR STEVE WILSON Divisional mission enabler, South and Mid Wales What made you want to become an officer? A song by the Housemartins called ‘Sitting On A Fence’. I was 30 and was sitting on a fence and life made no sense. What is the most interesting thing about your role? Meeting ordinary people who are being extraordinary people and doing extraordinary things. What one thing would you change about the Army? Negative conversations and negative attitudes. What is your favourite kind of holiday? The long kind – in the Alps with my wife, Kim, and our caravan. If you could be in a film, which would it be and what character would you play? ‘Patch’ in Patch Adams. He was brave enough to be himself and to challenge the status quo, caring for and having a positive impact on people and bringing joy into their lives, even when it meant breaking the rules.
If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be? Don’t measure goodness by what you don’t do, what you deny yourself, what you resist or whom you exclude. Measure goodness by what and whom you embrace, create and include. It’s inspired by the sermon in the film Chocolat. What do you do in your spare time? Walk, talk, eat food, listen to music and spend time with family and friends. If you could bring back any fashion trend what would it be? Homemade tank tops and two-tone skinny trousers. What is your favourite Bible verse? One of my favourite reassuring Bible verses is Romans 8:34, especially the phrase that tells us that Jesus ‘is also interceding for us’, or as The Message puts it, ‘is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us’. Which Bible figure would you like to meet and what would you ask them? Ananias. I’d ask: ‘How long did you wait outside the house of Judas on Straight Street before going in to lay hands on Saul? How long did you stay for and what did you talk about?’
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What is your favourite hymn or worship song? I have so many: ‘Cornerstone’ and ‘Oceans’ by Hillsong Worship, ‘You Say’ by Lauren Daigle, ‘Reckless Love’ by Cory Asbury and ‘O Church, Arise, And Put Your Armour On’ (SASB 819), a great rallying call. If you could rid the world of one thing, what would it be? Rats. Also, hatred and suspicion – they destroy relationships and good things. Did you have a nickname growing up? Massa, short for mass of bones (I was skinny). If you had to be handcuffed to one person for a day, who would it be? It could only be one person: Kim. If you could invent a gadget, what would it be? A real beam-me-up-Scotty gadget like the transporter in Star Trek. Which book would you want on a desert island? If I Could Tell You Just One Thing by Richard Reed. This is an inspiring book that I hope would keep me connected to the world and people beyond the island. If you had a ‘theme song’ that played whenever you walked into a room what would it be? The theme tune for Looney Tunes or the ‘Peter Gunn Theme’ from The Blues Brothers. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? It’s the little things that give you away, so do them. What is the most valuable thing you possess? My sense of humour.
