I woke this morning to a humm that nicely acommodates a crowd busy in hurried yet earnest discourse, somewhat in hushed tones due seemingly to the urgency of there topic. The Marine Corps is full of complainers, those of us who are just never satisfied with our circumstances, kinda makes you wonder why such a person would join the toughest branch of the Armed forces to begin with. For all express purposes the rumor mill or "scuttlebutt" as they say in the Marines was grinding out some outlandish commodities for those of us with itching ears. By this hour the bite of the desert air by night had long since ceased and in it's place the blinding desert sun, this selfsame sun that forces the sensible indoors for knowledge that to endure this hessian crucible for any purpose is onerous, arises to annul our cool.
Lying idly on my cot listening to this routine gabber, I was alerted as all others by a change in the atmosphere. The change that took place was one of finalization. There was consensus reached on a subject that has been dwelling as a menacing storm cloud over all our ignorant lives, the issue of going to Iraq. I remember my heart quickened it's pace as one of my superiors quickly dispensed of all the gossip found wanting. "All of 2/11 is going in two weeks, they have cancelled all of our training, let your family know and pack your bags." I sat up in unbelieve, a dumbfounded look upon my face and concern in my heart. 'What, I thought we weren't leaving till Sept?' I said to myself. After this confirmation upon confirmation parlayed itself in an acutely actualizing way. That left me no method of recourse, no way to rationalize or laugh away reality. In a few short weeks those stories of distant lands I hear of in the news, the lands I have only read of from biblical accounts, the mounting body count and my own battle with courage will all come to the forefront. No longer, can I say in a sympathetic tone; "how horrible!". No longer, will political talks as to the moral or legal correctness of this war be applicable to me. I will have to be a man for the first time in my life and forget myself. All I can hope to do is serve in a manner that will not bring dishonor to my God and my Country, or cost the lives of my brothers in arms. All I can hope is that through serving in this capacity, I will learn what sacrifice means and I will know what it is to love. What a joy it will be, if at last I can be rid of my childish notions of Love, Truth, Hope, Perseverance etc. I pray to God that His will be done! I hope that he teaches me an effective way to minister to those around me. Already, I can see fear etched in many of the faces of those who work under me. Most are no more than eightteen or nineteen years old, first time away from home and desperastely lost without a sure foundation in Christ or anything else for that matter. I see so many come in only to be drawn down into cesspools of sin. There is an image to live up too as a Marine, not the image you see personified on the TV, but one that corrupts. The image is that of a man with a foul mouth, one who can handle his drink, have his way with women in a reckless and carefree manner and then come to work the next day, work hard and stay true to the superfical aspect of being a Marine; Honor, Courage and Commitment. Here I stand, I can do no other, yet I am not sure if standing is what is required for these men to come to know Christ? I ask anyone who reads this to pray that God prepares a way for me, as well as watches after all who are in harms way. While your at it pray for the saints who are spreading His gospel to the utter ends of the earth, that they will bring glory to His name. Thank you....