I think.
It may have
been a book.
And perhaps
one day I’ll stumble upon it again, (for I looked and couldn’t find whatever it
was), that I might give you some actual FACTS and not just “I think”s. However let me share what I THINK I
remember.
At the border
between Austria Hungry and Italy there was a long 2 year battle. Austria with the high ground and the Italian
alpine troops with the lower. Both
entrenched into the sheer side of a mountain I believe called Lagazoui.
Whatever I
had been reading or watching took an excerpt from an Italian soldier’s letter
or diary. This man explained how an
injured comrade had to be rescued and transported. They would strap a wounded compatriot to
their backs as they scaled the mountain back to the relative safety of their
cave trench.
Basically the
whole strapping your buddy to your back as if he was your rucksack made me
think, ‘wow, that’s loyalty.’ And then
my head and heart formed a bit of an analogy.
So if you don’t like those, stop reading, because I’ll readily admit
this one to be somewhat of a reach in the first place.
How often do
you find yourself in the midst of a battle?
I know it can be a reality to many of us spiritually and for some quiet
literal. Yet, on this earth, with its bullets
of lead, fear, pain, and doubt there is One who is ALREADY the Victor of it
all. And yet He still very willingly
stays by your side through every scrimmage.
There is no condescending attitude for you to just pull your terrified
and quaking self together, for He knows you are but dust. Instead He deigns to fight with you that your
very Hope be before you. And thus you become strong and courageous.
When an enemy
bullet finds its mark, when your being is littered with shell fragments, and
when you’re blinded by destruction, you must remember that He hasn’t left
you.
Not only does
He remain with you throughout but when you are only a pain ridden immovable
form, seemingly surrounded by the melee, He WILL be the one to come retrieve
you. He will strap you to His back so
that you may continue on by HIS strength!!
He will carry up the steep mountain side though you be faint and weak. Do you think He won’t bind up your wounds? He is your Rescue, but you must make no
mistake, you are a solider and it is a war.
“Blessed be
the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle…”
Psalm 144:1
Look,
sometimes I feel like cannon fodder, but in all truthfulness there’s no such
thing in His kingdom. Not one of us is
expendable. His kingdom will be for
everlasting and if you are a part of it, you’re a part of it. There’s no child He sends forth into a
hopeless battle because He thinks they’re of little use to the cause. Rather, what you will learn of Him in the
fray He counts of great value, and so will you.
This war here
is but for a time, His true goal is the eternity to pass with His
redeemed. We must all fight bravely but
we also must all find ourselves in the very heat of the battle at times.
He is your Champion you may very confidently
follow Him into the fray!!
“Sleep not,
soldier of the cross,
Foes are lurking all around;
Look not here to find repose;
This is but thy battleground.
Foes are lurking all around;
Look not here to find repose;
This is but thy battleground.
Thro’ the
midst of toil and pain,
Let this thought ne’er leave thy breast;
Every triumph thou dost gain
Makes more sweet thy coming rest.”
Let this thought ne’er leave thy breast;
Every triumph thou dost gain
Makes more sweet thy coming rest.”
-Elizabeth
Gaskell
