Have you ever noticed that oftentimes the realm of relationships resembles a war zone? Think about it. There are several similarities. One is that every person you meet is on one side or the other - they are for Jesus or they are against Him. These two sides have a variety of ways in which they are expressed...different aspects, a different look, etc. Just as the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force have different specific tasks to perform when they are in the midst of battle, they are all working for the same purpose - to protect the United States and its citizens both at home and abroad, and to bring about a resolution that benefits the US.
Another similarity is that there are casualties every day in both relationships and a war zone. Some are minor irritations, and some are life-threatening wounds. But they are casualties none-the-less. Most are inflicted by the enemy. There are people in life who are like regular soldiers - they are just marching through life trying to do the best they can just like everyone else. In the heat of battle they shoot off as many rounds as they can, hitting some and missing others. Their main concern is to simply survive, and sometimes others get hurt in the process. Then there are those who are like the artillery men - they don't get to shoot as often, but when they do, it makes a huge impact. These are the people who generally aren't nasty to others, but when they are, they leave a giant gaping wound. Then there are people who are like snipers - they know exactly who they want to hit, they know how to best take them down, and they do their job regardless of the cost. It seems that the general goal of these people is to inflict the most harm possible on others. They consistently come in for the kill - they destroy another's spirit without a second thought.
Then there are those wounds caused by friendly fire. These hurt the most - not necessarily because of the severity of the wound, but because of where it came from. When you are in the heat of battle, you anticipate the possibility of being wounded by the enemy, but the thought that it is one of your brothers who will take you out never crosses your mind. It happens though. Most of the time unintentionally, though there are bad apples in every bunch. This is where the analogy breaks down a little bit - friendly fire happens much more frequently in relationships than it does in an actual war zone - too frequently, especially among Christians. One would think that it was a command to "wound one another" instead of "love one another" the way we treat one another most of the time. Friendly fire hurts the most because it is those who know us the best that have the potential to hurt us the worst.
Another similarity is that there is a camaraderie forged in the midst of battle that is unbreakable. There is something that fighting for the same cause in the midst of imminent danger that knits people together. I'm not sure why that is, but its true. And when this bond is created, it is virtually unbreakable. Regardless of everything else that is going on around us, we know that we can count on those people to fight with us, and most importantly for us every time.
What's the point? I think that sometimes we as Christians lose sight of the fact that every day we are at war; every day we are fighting against the principalities and power of this world. We have an enemy who is daily seeking to destroy and devour us (1 Peter 5:8). We already have the victory - we just don't always live like that.
My challenge is threefold: 1) Remember every day that we are at war and be alert! 2) Realize that everyone of us at one time or another can be classified as walking wounded. 3) We have a choice every day to cause wounds or heal them. It really is that simple, though not always that easy to live. Let the Holy Spirit guide your words and actions and realize you have the power to heal, or the power to harm. Please...on behalf of everyone you will encounter on any given day...choose healing.
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
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