“Don’t ever stop thinking about what’s honorable, right and
respected." ~ Philippians 4:8
It was 1942; he’d caught all-night
guard duty. There wasn’t much activity in
the European Theatre at three in the morning; just enough to keep soldiers on edge.
While Gary walked his post, he spent the cold, miserable
night pondering his future. By morning he’d
reached a decision. His Private’s pay
would never support the woman to whom he was engaged. Despite slim qualifications, Gary would apply
for Officer Candidate School.
Within weeks, he faced intense questioning from the Selection
Board. “Do you drink?” “Have you learned to overcome fear?” “How much sleep to you get?” Gary fielded them with no trouble.
They continued in rapid succession. “Do you pray?” “Do you think an officer should pray?” These questions came from a hardened career
soldier; not a guy who likely spent much time on his knees in prayful
reflection. Gary paused to collect his
thoughts.
Would a truthful answer disqualify him from officer
training? He wanted this so badly, not
just to avoid late-night patrol, KP and latrine duties. But mostly so that he and his sweetheart
could afford to get married.
Gary didn’t equivocate.
He admitted praying often and cited several great generals who did
the same. He told the Board that
officers should be prepared to lead their troops in all activities, including
prayer when conditions required it.
The questions grew more hostile. “In times of war, shouldn’t the moral code be
relaxed? Doesn’t the stress of battle
justify doing things that men wouldn’t do under normal situations?”
Gary quickly recognized that these inquiries offered a
chance to look broad-minded. He considered
a soft retreat – careful that while he had his own beliefs, it might be immoral
to impose them on others. This would
surely gain him some points with Board members whose moral compass pointed in
multiple directions.
In the end he stated simply, “I don’t believe war permits a
double standard.”
He left the interview resigned to the fact that those
calloused, war-mongers viewed him as naïve; unfit to lead soldiers into
battle. Surely his scores would rank too
low.
But to his astonishment, when the scores were posted a few
days later, not only had Gary passed, but he was in the first group taken for
Officer Candidate School! He
graduated, became a second lieutenant, married his sweetheart – never ambiguous
in his beliefs.
He faced one of life’s critical crossroads and chose a
faith-filled path. The life of Christ
teaches us great practical character lessons. Despite difficult circumstances, He always
responded in with love and kindness. Yet,
at the same time, He was a man of great passion, strength, and courage. This is how we can . . . and should respond.
Dear Lord, we’re all a mixture of both good
and bad; ethical and corrupt. When faced
with choices, lead me to the moral high ground.
When I’ve done something wrong, help me do what’s necessary to get back
on track. Amen
