The pain and despair of war has been felt since the struggle for power began long ago and a evil in men’s hearts grew. There have been brave men throughout time who gave their lives to protect their land and families against an invading force. There has been soldiers on both sides of a conflict claiming God’s protection. As a young 17 year old boy, I felt the excitement of joining the army and getting a chance to prove myself as a man. I rarely considered the actual consequences of going to battle and the cause for which I would be fighting for. I believed it to be a patriotic duty but most of all was the excitement, at the time my life lacked direction and I longed for my Dad to be proud of me. Because up to this point in my life , I had been a major disappointment to him. After completing basic training, and going thru the ceremony of becoming an official soldier, there was my Dad and my little brother Timmy watching this moment, my Dad would pass away the next year, very suddenly after a three month battle, just trying to breath. I never was called to action, as the war called Desert Storm ended while I was at Fort Leonard Wood,Missouri completing basic training. I never endured the horrors of war or experienced the great victories of battle , that I rehearsed in my childhood with my older brother Eddie as we played army on Ashbrook Street. I wanted to prove myself to my Dad but most of all to myself. I knew of a God and believed I was saved but I was not walking with him but walking with all the pleasures of this world and only seeking a comfortable state for myself.I often wondered if I would have been a brave soldier in face of uncertainty, would I have mustered up the courage under enemy fire to rescue my fallen brothers? , or take a strategic offensive risking my life? Today in this life, out of the war zone, there are plenty of battles and areas for me to be brave and take the courageous path as a man for God, for my family and my friends. I realize this life will throw a lot my way and along this path will there be the lost souls, I pray that my mission, will be one of love, compassion and forgiveness. May I carry out my orders from the true Commander of my life my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and even to the point of laying down my life for my brother and never forsaking Him who saved me. May I be endure till the very end and may this courage, strength, faith come from the Creator of all.
Screwtape Letter Five
War: