The Many Faces of War

The Greek Empire lasted for roughly 350 years, the majority of which were spent waging countless wars.

Which is really very sad when you consider the rich heritage they left for future generations yet probably didn't get a chance to enjoy themselves.

This is the endgame of strife.

It robs you not only of the ability to see anything other than the object of your wrath, but also to focus on what brings life.

Those simple joys we can participate in which don't require arguments or fights or battles: the appreciation of family, friends, and community.

These last collectively transcend the diabolical need for more - alternatively known as "gimme, gimme, gimme" - thereby stupefying every vice that drives a man to wish to harm another.

When pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth are in play, anarchy reigns supreme.

And that is the ultimate role of a demi-god - diabolical by nature and the very antithesis of the truly divine.

As I remember all those who have bravely given their lives to serve and protect for the cause of the common good, I'm looking inwards to see which parts of me do not align with it.

In or out of uniform, casualty is a term to be avoided.

But how best to achieve this?

What fruit am I producing that keeps me at war with God and man and even myself?

Questions, questions...

To mull over, answer truthfully, then work on.

With between 150 million and 1 billion lives already lost to innumerable conflicts since records were kept, it would be nice to honour all the men and women who continue to lay their lives down by doing our own small part.

When sacrifices must be made, let us make them for each other in order to live in peace.

Eventually, our little ripples will make large waves.

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#RemembranceSunday2021

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📖 But God's Spirit causes us to live in a different way. We love other people. We are happy and we have peace in our minds. We are patient, kind and good. People can trust us to do what is right. We respect other people and we rule ourselves properly. God's Spirit helps us to live in that way. There is no law that says these things are wrong. We belong to Christ. As a result, we no longer obey our wrong human thoughts. We stop doing the bad things that our thoughts want us to do. It is like we have killed those thoughts on the cross. Now it is God's Spirit that gives us life. So we must let God's Spirit lead us in how we live. We must not become proud. We must not be jealous of each other, so that we cause trouble to one another.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬26 EASY (YouVersion)

📷 Reproduction of the "Ladies in Blue" fresco, ca. 1525-1450 BC by Emile Gilliéron. Originally from the MET Museum, digitally enhanced by rawpixel.