The Declaration of Independence:
In terms of combat, engagement in battle and war;
"The United States Army remains one of the most powerful forces in the world, based on recent combat experiences, equipment and training".
"We hold these truths to be self evident..."
To declare Independence and move to be free, is to elicit warfare. You don't declare it because the girl across the street said she did it. You definitely don't do it, because it happens to be politically correct or whatever nonsense is being peddled at the time. You do it, because the time has come to exercise the full essence, of yourself and purpose freely. Freedom is never free, it comes with a huge price! There is a tussle, there is a fight and war is declared. When I speak of war, I am not talking of incurring the consequences of wicked dealings and actions. Or the result of a trouble-maker instigating unrest. No I am speaking of being thrust, into a necessary and/or involuntary situation.
You gain war stripes, by being immersed in the battle. Every highly decorated Sergeant or General knows that for each battle, there was not an assurance that they would make it back alive. But at each call of duty, they showed up and showed out. Thus building rank. And the more they went out, it was impossible to attack them with the threat of war. In fact war became the familiar. The real repulsive shock was the mundane acts, mediocrity, pettiness and foolishness exercised by those that would.
You cannot lead anyone to where you have never been. And you cannot teach what you are not evidently living (this is not about perfection)
For example; I remember being on yet another Mission trip. This was to a war torn zone. I was in this little town, helping this girl and her family. The girl and I had gone out to fetch some water, for their house. The war had left them, without basic resources. The water source, was at the bottom of a hill. I thought nothing of it because she was such great company and was encouraging me the whole time, instead of the other way around. As we grabbed our buckets of water to climb back up, I almost passed out.
She was bone thin and frail, yet lifted two buckets of water like it was nothing. Physically, I looked bigger and stronger. But climbing up a dusty steep hill, with two heavy pails. Was quite new to my pain and trouble ridden life. So for every two steps, we stopped to wait for me to catch my breath and spill about 1/3 of the water. The helper became the helped. She laughed the whole time, with understanding. She told me she was used to it, she had had a lot of practice. I apologized for failing to provide swift manual labor, but was glad to give her something to laugh about in this dark time in her life.
You can never fight an enemy you don't know. Much like the story of the baby drawn from the water and raised by a princess, from the kingdom opposing the baby's family. Unbeknownst to the princess, the baby belonged to the enemy. So she took him and raised him, in the palace. He learned the language, palace protocol and maybe the strengths and vulnerabilities of his host family and their people. So that when the time came, to fulfill his destiny. He would stand and declare independence, from tyranny. He had been equipped (knowingly and unknowingly), with all the skills he needed. And he did not back down or back out.
So last week, a little birdie (actually it was an ominous flesh-eating evil bird) brought me news of a rage against me. For independently proclaiming freedom and declaring liberty to all who desired it. Some bumper-sticker identifying, poster carrying, menu giving, busybody and powerless (though they applied a slab of sorcery) group were bothered.
So I looked at the war medals on my shelf, pondered the (grace-filled) trophies, checked out my scars and spoils, both visible and invisible. Polished my war utensils and most importantly, called the CAPTAIN of hosts. HE laughed at their insolent rage and vain imaginations. Now that I see the joke, I am ROFLOL!!
Happy 4th of July!!!
