I just finished another wonderful Marine Corps day. I hope that by saying what an average day consist of I do not shatter anyones vision of "America's greatest fighting force". This day began like most others you wake up at 0500 in the morning go on a formation run. You know the ones where you see them all in step singing running cadences. This is not that bad although unbearably slow for my taste. The songs are very tacky also the themes consist of outlandish things like doing PT (Physical Training) runs in heaven with Saint Peter and Chesty Puller(who is the Marines most decorated war fighter and a drunken wife beater) after you die in combat. After this we proceed to our appointed place of duty(work) at 0800 in the morning. I am a Lance Corporal a lower rank in the Marine Corps that is an E-3 for those of you who know pay grades. What this means is I am the guy given the orders. Things which apply in the rest of the world, things like knowledge of job, experience as a Marine, and capabilities as a leader and any other admirable trait are meaningless until you pick up E-4. Corporal... I am what they fittingly call a "non-rate" along with anyone else E-3 or below. This basically means that I have no rights outside of those given me. This works out wonderfully when it comes to accomplishing simple tasks, seeing as I have about 5 people in direct supervision over myself and about 30 other people just like myself. These 5 people usually disagree in every aspect of accomplishing simple tasks such as counting phones. So instead of just doing something once we do it 5 times in 5 different ways. Well each one insist "this is the way it is supposed to be done those other Sgt's are idiots". I learned to laugh at this....I try to reserve all negative judgments which I often find creeping to my mind in the form of rebellious sarcasm. I try to remember that these people are the same old as me and are doing the best with what they have.
Being a Marine is wonderful! What other job can you get yelled at for not making your bed properly in the morning? We clean all the time I think I have a complex about dust now. The Marines are convinced that dust hidden in the deepest recesses of your room are the very thing which is going to lead to an untimely death. There is also formations it is understood that the only way that a group of people can understand anything is if they are in a box formation for at least 30 min. Oh Well......
My petty gripes and complaining aside. I must constantly remind myself that I am not here to do my will. I cannot be like everyone else cursing my superiors under my breath, only doing enough to get by and falling into the vile jokes and talk which are so common amongst Marines. I am here to do the will of the Father. Jesus Christ! The name which has completely transformed my life. When I think back on what exactly he has meant in my life all I feel is awe... The same awe as looking out at the constellations on a clear moonless night. All of my apologetics all of my proofs that I now use to defend the Gospel of Christ did not bring me to Christ it was seeing my depravity. Realizing that I am a sinner and that Christ died for me, He is my redeemer. In the end all of my searching for the great truths in other religions and philosophies I was brought nowhere. It was when I accepted Orthodoxy the great mystery of Christ which has always been in front of my eyes that I found Life! He alone is Awesome! I live now to be his ambassador to the Marine Corps