2023-12-28 A Meditation on the Role of the Individual
“16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matt 10:16-23 ESV)
In film and dream pictures of a world off-kelter, war joined, machinery paramount. And the go to. The role of the individual suddenly thrust into positions of decision and of responsibility. Who would have thought? How dare we so thus imagine ourselves? Who are we and what are our qualifications?
The basic prayer a person makes is structured around a thesis, a faith perspective, an ideology, an ideologue, a mindset: by some untold skills I or we are qualified. Our qualifications do not hinder the expansive daydream wherein we are of a sudden thrust into the light of day and… would you look here? We are decision-makers and authorities on some things. We are fanciful and cozy in our new digs, perhaps to a fault? Or as a deep reassurance that all things are handed over to Him, not to meager paltry us. We, yes, we Serve, and do so gladly, but oh the heights we dared to cozy on up to. The responsibilities we lunged forth with prophetic zeal towards. The life-on-the-line betterment, a better day than the day of mourning, a Qualified perch as those preserved and fighting on behalf of those who fared less fortunately. Who are caught up in cisterns and hovels. Who are suffering in the flesh. Who have bequeathed to these the more alert and youthful zen patriots their life’s will and Observed Bequest.
For these are times no longer to pinch ourselves with surprise, but to have a prayer revolving around the proper use of our talent of money entrusted to us (Matt 25:14ff): how shall we spend it, and thus spend it in the guise of a Leader and a Patriot? Because suddenly we were all agog daydreaming about fanciful perches and duties therein. We were kept humble by some facet of those same coins and talents: the very fact of us being Chosen from On High meant we had guile and peace, bravery and austerity, jurisprudence and equanimity. Somehow we were sheltered under a hand, under wings, under a Paternal Authority On High. We were preserved and it was said, “A child shall lead them” (Is 11:6).
The soldier in light of her or his courage has momentarily a direct line to the Heights. A direct line, wherein it is coveted rightly so, our perspective and embedded wisdom: we see things that pundits and official prophetic channels covet and long to see. We are no more author of our own wisdoms and perspectives than we are those carried along like a babe in swaddling clothes. As such a babe we are alert and inquisitive as to our environs, but also contributing out of our innate sensibilities, sensibilities unto dialog and Peace. Unto cooing and rattling, headstrong yet nurtured and malleable. We do not understand our own plans, which change in the wink of a scene played out before our eyes. The sycophant or street-corner beggar or preacher. The coupled-up players. The fashionable knowledgeable ones. The people just getting by. The tired and the excited. The forlorn and the ones kept to themselves. The teammate and one quietly taken evening rest.
In all things our digs are our cause for gratitude and also for a strange sense of personal Inheritance and Wealth. We are wealthy because of the digs wherein we have been found and have found ourselves. We are seeing the war machinations as respectful of our own personal boundaries and perimeters of acceptability: together, we shall persevere. Together, we shall qualify for the races. Together, we shall glibly go where no ancestor of ours perhaps has formerly gone. Where no previous generation has ventured. All these things in that attributed Authority and Responsibility of the Chosen Ones. Who don’t stop to marvel at what heights they are looking out from, only gladly because of Divine Gift to dare thus to step up to the plate.