|
“To
map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of
the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it
takes brave men and women to win them."
-
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I
guess the zero hour will soon be here, but I am not afraid since I know
You are near."
... these words are
from a poem which was found on the body of a nineteen-year-old American
soldier in Vietnam. Even though this war ended on January 27, 1973
when the Paris Peace Accords were signed by the U.S., North Vietnam,
South Vietnam and the Viet Cong, I still felt a tug at my heart reading
these simple words written by this soldier so long ago.
Unlike the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the
news media gave nightly reports on the progress or lack of progress of
the Vietnam War. And since my oldest brother was stationed in
Vietnam, my family watched these news reports nightly. I can
remember many a night going to sleep worried about my brother and other
young men I knew from the local area who were also serving in Vietnam.
I can still mentally recall the anxiety that my parents felt during
these newscasts ... anxiety that was so strong, that my other brothers
and sisters and I felt it too. My brother returned from Vietnam
without physical injury. But, this was not the case for many of
the young men we knew from the rural community. Young men were
drafted into the military for the Vietnam War ... but being drafted
didn't make them any less courageous than those who volunteered for
wars. The fact that they went and did their tour of duty, was
evidence of a courage that those of us who have never endured active
military duty in a war, will never identify with fully. No one
truly, can walk in another's shoes, no matter how much we empathize with
someone else.
"War is not the
answer" the peacemakers will tell us ... and they are ultimately
right. But, the "collective consciousness" of the world
does not agree with them. The evidence of wars and violence in our
world shows us that our "collective consciousness" still
contains plenty of the primitive beliefs that have been held in
consciousness throughout history. Even the Bible shows us that
even when the Earth was barely populated the allegorical story of Cain
and Abel gives evidence of a belief in violence to solve problems.
And although Cain killed his brother Abel, he went on to take a wife,
have a son, and build a city. This scenario of "violence as
the answer" continues in modern times. And in my opinion it
will continue as long as we "look outside of ourselves" for
the solution. No one can give us "Peace on Earth" ...
not even God. A World at Peace will only become possible when more
people hold peace in their consciousness than those who do not.
Then and only then, will the "collective consciousness" shift
to "Peace on Earth."
As students of
metaphysics, we know, that "All Is God and All Is Good" ...
but how do we understand war and violence in light of this Principle?
I believe that the Good will always prevail and history has shown this
to be true. No matter what may "appear" in the physical,
the Good continues to manifest through the consciousness of more and
more people. "All Is God and All Is Good" is an
Omnipotent Principle. Even during times of war and violence, Peace
finds Its way into the hearts and minds of people. The young
Vietnam soldier is a great example of this ...
"I
guess the zero hour will soon be here, but I am not afraid since I know
You are near." ... what greater
Good could any of us imagine than to know with certainty that God is
with us even at the hour of physical death? Ernest Holmes tells us
in "The Science of Mind": "A realization of the
presence of God ... is the most powerful healing agency known to the
mind of man."
Let us pray for all
the soldiers in the world today, both those here and those who have gone
to the Other-Side:
I rejoice and give thanks in knowing that the
Presence of God is with every soldier, everywhere. I know and
accept that each soldier is personal to God for each are a part of the
very Life of God. I believe and know that no matter where a
soldier may be called to duty, God is with them as they begin their tour
and is with them when the tour is over. I know and accept that the
spirit of each soldier is infused with the strength and wisdom of God
... and in this awareness I know that each soldier knows what they need
to know when they need to know it. I know that these courageous
men and women are in their right and perfect place and as they affirm
the Presence of God right where they are, they receive the evidence that
this is so. I affirm for each and every soldier all over the world
that your faith and your hope in God will never fail you, for I know and
I know that I know, that God has an ever-lasting Love for you ... now
and always. And for this we can all be so very grateful.
AND
SO IT IS!
Keep
the faith!
Rev.
Dr. Henry Lee Bates
Visit Rev. Bates BLOG: Living
the Science of Mind
|
