in the world, not of it....

Spent some time with Jesus Tuesday. It was good. very good. Today I spent some time with people which was also good. very good. (zehr gut for Esther!- I have a chinese friend who speaks German, by the way! He's lived in Salzburg, too!)
I was speaking to one of the volunteers at the soup kitchen today who had served in the air force in Bermuda for three months. He said soldiers couldn't cope with the way of living down there. Every week, someone would have a breakdown because there was nothing to do down there besides "bikes, booze, babes, and beaches." He said it wasn't just the Americans, but the British troops as well that had the trouble. They would literally go crazy out of boredom. They were so accustomed to a "go,go,go" regimented way of living, that they couldn't slow down and adjust to the Carribean lifestyle.
I wonder if we are guilty of this in the Army at times? Taking fresh fighters, and sending them out into 'soft' territory to get their 'feet' wet, instead of plunging them into the thick of the fight. Or is it more of a personal discipline thing? I heard a story of a certain officer who was sent out to do mundane work in hopes of dulling his fire and quieting his voice that was often contradictory to the way things were. He perservered even in the most pitiful cirumstances, with one of the least "impactful" jobs his superiors could come up with...shoveling dirt. Yet when they asked him how his new position was going, he was cheerful and full of joy. I guess this situation proves that a soldier is a soldier at heart, not necessarily in location. We are to "be always on guard," yes?

"If we are the Body, why arent His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing?"
(Casting Crowns)