I was sitting at my desk at work when I got a phone call from the Minister of Finance, Bob Richards. I thought it suspicious that he was calling me but was intrigued nonetheless by the personal call.Minister Richards asked me to join the SAGE Commission. “The what Commission?” was my response.After hearing what it was, I asked why I would want to be a part of it.“We couldn’t convince you to run for politics,” said the Minister, “but we would like you to help the economy.“Come on, you have to help us,” he pleaded.I thought for a moment. As I was thinking, Minister Richards told me that Brian Duperreault would be the chairman of the SAGE Commission.A man who could choose to be anywhere in the world with his wealth and connections had accepted Minister Richards’ invitation to spearhead the Commission. A man I hold in high esteem for all that he has done and the faith he carries with him helped me to accept the call to duty extended to me by the Finance Minister. I knew I was being directed to a place I was meant to be. To a place of service I had been asking for, for some time.I thought about how I had consciously chosen to stay away from politics. Growing up in Bermuda as I did, I was taught to not make waves. To remain on the sidelines. To bob and weave. That way, nothing could ever stick to me and neither could I be labelled one way or another. I could remain as an independent thinker. With no one associating me with anything. So politics had always been a no-no for me.But this call felt different to me. Resonated on a much deeper level than being called to politics. Because this call was not asking me to take sides but to look at all sides. To try to find a sustainable way to move my country, our country, forward so there would be something left for my children.Your children. Our children. I realised the sense of urgency necessary if we wanted to preserve anything for our children so they could enjoy the rights, privileges and benefits I enjoyed as a Bermudian growing up here.And then all the reasons why I should, rather than should not, join the Commission came flooding to the forefront. Positive upon positive, one right after the other. Telling me. Willing me to join the Commission. The Island’s abundance that had prevailed since the 1980s is waning to the point of near extinction, I told myself. Now I had been offered the opportunity to be a part of the solution rather than be on the sidelines, complaining about how bad things are.A powerful thought. How could I not step up to the plate? How could I say no to my country, our country, my future, our future? My children’s future. Our children’s future. How could I?I closed my eyes and, with great certainty, I knew I had no other choice but to say yes. To join those who were willing to put their reputations on the line in the face of all the naysayers who would do whatever they could to discredit us, demean us and distract us from what we were asked to do. And be strong enough to keep going. To help to find a solution to stop the bleeding our country is facing.So here I am today, a proud member of the SAGE Commission.This is a post I am beyond pleased to have accepted. I am learning so much about how governments function and don’t function. Realising that even though the corporate structure and the government structure differ significantly, the people who work within both systems all want the same thing — to be treated fairly and with respect. To be contributing members of their organisations so that they can be contributing members of society.I have seen firsthand the inefficiencies that are strangling the very foundation of our future, our growth and more importantly our sustainability. I have sat in interviews with people, attended public town hall meetings, met people I would not have otherwise met and when we are all honest with each other, when we are brave enough to push aside our partisan views and look at our country as whole, there is not one person who can honestly say we are in a good position.Each person agrees something needs to be done. Each person would like to see a solution reached but so many are leery of putting themselves out there in the event they get shot down. I know. I was one of them not too long ago.But what I know is if I did not step up to the plate, if I sat on the sidelines and watched my beautiful island crumble and fall apart, I would have no one to blame but myself. I am fully aware of the countries, cities, and states with greater resources than we could ever have collapsing under their own weight. This sends shudders through me.Once powerful empires, with ample natural resources, are crumbling. Our economy, which is driven by intellectual capital rather than tangible capital, is in danger of doing the same. I knew I had to do whatever I could to help bring my country back from the brink. To be a part of the solution, rather than the problem itself.To use my energy to help to shift the focus away from the mysterious “them” to “us”. Because we are all in this together and there is no “them” that got us into the mess we are in.It was us — all of us. And when we are willing to accept it was us, we will be able to find and implement the solutions we are looking for.What we seek is seeking us, as Rumi once said.Where we are right now is not an OBA issue, nor a PLP issue. It is a Bermudian issue. An issue that threatens all of us regardless of whether we are CEOs or street sweepers. Whether we are black or white. Whether we are wealthy or struggling.Unless we get our country operating again and competitive again, we are in danger of becoming extinct. Not a fate I want for myself or for my family, so I joined the SAGE Commission because I care about my country. Our country. Can you say the same?