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The beauty of America and the Christain faith is the abundance of freedom. Reading through some old papers of mine reminded me of what our freedom is to be used to accomplish.
In 2007, while in Iraq, I wrote these words, “This morning, I talked to one of the Tactical Operation Center soldiers. I asked him, “Was it a good night?” He responded, “What do you mean?” I quickly added, “Did anyone die in the AO (area of operation)?” Hmmm. No souls lost.
“Did I have a good day” used to mean other things: no conflict with co-workers, no quarrel with my spouse, and just a general well-being about things. You know a kind of “Don’t worry, be happy” day. Nothing stressed you out. It was calm - a good day. Not anymore the stakes are higher.
At war, a good day is when nobody dies or when nobody loses an arm or leg. That’s a good day. Everything else is peripheral. Or, in theological terms, adiaphora, non-essential. A year at war changes your standards, I think. I have wondered if anything will ever seem difficult or if civilian life will now seem somehow petty. How do you go back to worrying about paint color and matching clothes after all this? Or should you?
Perhaps, times like this reset what is essential in a person’s life and remind you that the standard of a life well lived we ought to pay most attention to is the standard of life or death. The measure of a life well-lived is not happiness, not things, not pleasure, but the service of life. Did the day I lived today serve life or death? Did I intercept anyone today who had death close at his/her heels and turn back the enemy? Did I speak life into anyone in the name of Almighty God? Did I realize what was at stake?
Our job on this earth is to fight back death. The spiritual death, the death of happiness for our neighbors, and the un-timely physical death of all people, each are enemies we must face. This standard measures a day at war. Perhaps, it should be the constant standard of every day. So, today I say this. Serve life and it will be a good day.
Pastor Corey
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