2022-10-07 A Meditation on Renewed Strength for the Journey

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” (Ac 3:19–21 ESV)

Conviction. Courage. Plain speech. Purpose. All things the soldier, in aware moments, knows to be his or hers to profess. To lay claim to. Never to concede that some elusive corner has been turned, and never to concede that now things are flat, overly thought out, that a long absent curtain call is all of a sudden real and in front of us. Our mission remains; our temperate climates continue to beckon; our joy and peace that we wake to, remains malleable, remains gift, remains outward and giving to others.

Yet the cold and the frustration, the monotony of life in the trenches, the failure to have entertainment troupe or story-teller sent our way. Sometimes it is all we can do to give those fears back to Christ, to give those hang ups over unto a Higher Power, to take our rest in assurance that tomorrow is a New Day.

Rewind. The soldier suddenly had all things made plain, and did enlist. Did have a heart change or heart conviction as to a war being fought, wishing meekly and simply to do her or his part. This was no selfish motive, no boast, no prideful perfection, but something sincere and genuine, brave, a personal understanding perhaps sheltered and safeguarded, not bandied about to an unbelieving, skeptical, crowd of whom-may-come. This is a decision between her or him and her or his God. This is abundant waters of gratitude, not of lousy demands nor claims, but fountains of gratitude towards that Higher Power who did witness our enlistment signature and headstrong purpose.

So in awe we meet others, aware that there is gold amidst much flack, stuff of legends, stuff of miracle, stuff of Christian Experience. Who hasn’t right now come to the experience of the Cross. Who doesn’t realize, in meager times, some failure past, whether ours or of those we met, and have pangs as to what could have been. What project didn’t occur, what friendship remained unconsummated with time spent together, what things do attack and try to dispirit us at the hour when all systems are go, the mechanics are perpetually being gotten up, the ship is underway, the noble task is heading forth?