“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Co 4:7–18 ESV)

The weight of glory probably counterbalances insofar as her mantelled recipients dwell Calm and Humble. Joking, appreciating the smaller things, never puffed up by the Truth Claims bequeathed, endowed upon them. The soldier is bearing such Half-Crazy nomenclature and categorization, as to be Professional adherents, servants, to a mighty Tower of largesse, nobility, modern-day secret society, secret service, work “in the field”.

The field being a Community, of intel work, of You Most Endowed here found gladsome and equanimous, friendly to the fresh face at the evening’s campfire, wide-eyed to the Tidings, Reports, that they bring back “From the field”. We are easily Enabled to be gladsome and gregarious, helpful and joshing around, because we have Love: the call of this brand of work no less a call to invisible Sainthood than that latter one is itself visible and saintly. We no less.

To arrive at a post-coping Heads-Up attitudinal, antagonistic-to-evil Stance, is somehow to break free of the “good, good, good!” mantra (the reflections on so many good and heartwarming things transpiring, just maybe) and to Embrace soberly, saliently, the ill-begotten tidings as well. We are never tried beyond what we can bear, but with the Advance in Coping Skills, comes a fresh plate of Evil to brook. Evil to assuage. Evil to hate in dastardly fashion.

The gospel warrior lives into the Community of agents, of agencies, of surrogate Fronts and small pop-up shops, storefronts sublime (subtle, humored, in situ), and Reflects: the Law (theologically-speaking) that Demands no Rest for the Weary, that Demands More, and for less “pay”; that Demands plausible Deniability (you will never have a business card or anything more respectable than your Strange Individual Experience with the Majesty of the One on High). You are Called, hereby, to translate agent-speak to a Living Witness, around said campfire, humored and Inviting, the most aggressive, sword-bearing gentlemen in our midst being often the most receptive, calmly listening, non-judgmental; and would that Someone would explain why this is so, why they are tried—the saints are tried—why they are painfully in Attendance even though no one there is of pedigree thus to engage…

The trick of the trade, then, is to envelop in something Spiritual, alongside something Unafraid—we’re certainly driving in the fast lane—of dying and Servant Sacrifices. Indeed, church life… some of the time we almost feel we’ve cheated the System, not being so uptight nor constrained nor in malaise nor subdued by our Servant Requisite Duties. But there is nothing cheating about it: Christ has a Sabbath for His Saints. Christ gives them happy hours of prayer. Christ Engages and from His toolkit, His scabbard, His sheath, comes Beauty and head-spinning jaw-dropping Sustaining Life in the Spirit, in His Spirit.