Some food for thought.
I seem to swing in emotion and opinion a lot since last Tuesday. At times, I want peace at any cost. At times I want FREEDOM... and my country, and my community, and my family and friends, at any cost.
I was a kid when the Vietnam War was winding down. I was terrified of growing up and being forced to be a soldier, go fight in a war, and die a horrible death.
This fear has followed me through out my life. I could NEVER understand how men (AND women) could "give" their lives over to the service of their country, and risk death during war. "Life" as not about this!!! "Life" was to be happy, and fall in love, and spread love and joy to others.
"War" would ruin it! I hated living in the Cold War days in the early 1980's. I was sure a Nuclear War was inevitable when Reagan went into the White House. I was sure my best friend, a Marine, would die in Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War. He served, marched into Kuwait City... Killed other human beings... and survived.
I've seen films and read about the American Civil War (the film "Glory") and WWII (Saving Private Ryan).... even "Braveheart".
How could these men do this??? How can one march into his own certain death; storm a beach and get massacred before even hitting the sand, how can one give his life away like that???
Don't they want to live? Don't they want to grow old???
I never understood.
UNTIL last Tuesday, that is.
I understand it. I feel it.
I dont want to die. I don't.
But, I keep feeling, that since last Tuesday, my life is not my own anymore. It belongs to my loved ones. It belongs to my 75 year old dad. It belongs to my 12 year old godchild. It belongs to my community, my city, my state, and my country.
As a Christian, I have learned and believed that my life belongs to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Yet, I cannot and will not sit back and watch others kill my family. I can't. I feel confusion about this. "Turn the other cheek", right?
AND, I'm old now too! 36. I know that it will be, not I, that goes first, but my 20 year old nephew... and my 18 year old nephew.
And I feel frustration over this. We send our children to die for us??
Sorry, folks... I guess Ive rambled here. No real point to make. I just feel I have to share.
How do you feel?
Are you young? Are you eligible to be drafted?
Please share.
Thanks.
------------------
My love for you
It's in the things I do and say
If I wanna live I gotta
Die to myself someday.
Surrender.
I seem to swing in emotion and opinion a lot since last Tuesday. At times, I want peace at any cost. At times I want FREEDOM... and my country, and my community, and my family and friends, at any cost.
I was a kid when the Vietnam War was winding down. I was terrified of growing up and being forced to be a soldier, go fight in a war, and die a horrible death.
This fear has followed me through out my life. I could NEVER understand how men (AND women) could "give" their lives over to the service of their country, and risk death during war. "Life" as not about this!!! "Life" was to be happy, and fall in love, and spread love and joy to others.
"War" would ruin it! I hated living in the Cold War days in the early 1980's. I was sure a Nuclear War was inevitable when Reagan went into the White House. I was sure my best friend, a Marine, would die in Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War. He served, marched into Kuwait City... Killed other human beings... and survived.
I've seen films and read about the American Civil War (the film "Glory") and WWII (Saving Private Ryan).... even "Braveheart".
How could these men do this??? How can one march into his own certain death; storm a beach and get massacred before even hitting the sand, how can one give his life away like that???
Don't they want to live? Don't they want to grow old???
I never understood.
UNTIL last Tuesday, that is.
I understand it. I feel it.
I dont want to die. I don't.
But, I keep feeling, that since last Tuesday, my life is not my own anymore. It belongs to my loved ones. It belongs to my 75 year old dad. It belongs to my 12 year old godchild. It belongs to my community, my city, my state, and my country.
As a Christian, I have learned and believed that my life belongs to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Yet, I cannot and will not sit back and watch others kill my family. I can't. I feel confusion about this. "Turn the other cheek", right?
AND, I'm old now too! 36. I know that it will be, not I, that goes first, but my 20 year old nephew... and my 18 year old nephew.
And I feel frustration over this. We send our children to die for us??
Sorry, folks... I guess Ive rambled here. No real point to make. I just feel I have to share.
How do you feel?
Are you young? Are you eligible to be drafted?
Please share.
Thanks.
------------------
My love for you
It's in the things I do and say
If I wanna live I gotta
Die to myself someday.
Surrender.