“There’s times, son, when men have to fight – to save the things they hold dear. “
-Quote by General John Pershing’s father towards the end of the Civil War, 1864.
Let me ask you something. Is there something in your life that you hold so dear, that you are willing to lay your life on the line to keep it?
In our world today that is full of war and rumors of war, there are men and women that take this quote and live by it. The men and women of our armed forces are living this quote out. Despite the chaos back here at home, despite the many people that belittle their job, despite those that say they want to protect them more by bringing them home, despite the fact that Death stares them in the face…they fight because they hold dear something in this world.
There will come a day though, when you will also be asked whether you believe the above quote or not. Death will be staring you in the face. You will be asked if you will sit down or continue standing.
So, what are you willing to die for?
Or are you even willing to die?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Train of Thoughts
I sit in a train bound for Albertville. It’s one of those really fast ones, Train Grand Vitesse, or TGV for short. It can or actually is, travelling at around 200 miles per hour.
Due to the speed of this iron monster, the French countryside is speeding by. Not as fast you might think for 200 mph, but still fast enough to make is one big blur.
And even though I like trains and the sensation of riding in one, the thought struck me –
Do I live my life from a train window?
Meaning, do I speed through my life at 200 mph and not catch the little details or tiny wonders along the way? Do I sit back passively and let someone speed me through my life? Am I content with a big blur?
There’s something that can be said for going through life slowly…of course we can only go as slow as God allows, but I would hate to speed to towards the goal, only to get there, look back, and not realize how I got there…
In the end a TGV train gets me home faster than driving. I feel that buzz, that American buzz, in the back of my head that says – “I SAVED TIME!!!”
But once there, how much did I gain if I missed the journey along the way?
Just a thought…
Due to the speed of this iron monster, the French countryside is speeding by. Not as fast you might think for 200 mph, but still fast enough to make is one big blur.
And even though I like trains and the sensation of riding in one, the thought struck me –
Do I live my life from a train window?
Meaning, do I speed through my life at 200 mph and not catch the little details or tiny wonders along the way? Do I sit back passively and let someone speed me through my life? Am I content with a big blur?
There’s something that can be said for going through life slowly…of course we can only go as slow as God allows, but I would hate to speed to towards the goal, only to get there, look back, and not realize how I got there…
In the end a TGV train gets me home faster than driving. I feel that buzz, that American buzz, in the back of my head that says – “I SAVED TIME!!!”
But once there, how much did I gain if I missed the journey along the way?
Just a thought…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
