On Being a Veteran

I was 18 when I enlisted  in the Army. It was just after Christmas that year. It seemed inevitable that my “number” would come up soon and I would be drafted anyway. Besides that, I lost my military deferment when I was academically disqualified from the college I attended (I majored in parties as a freshman). So I took the not-so-heroic step of volunteering for the draft. It seemed a difficult decision at the time, but in retrospect, one that paid dividends in later years. Continue reading

Security

Recently, in one of my daily devotionals, I came across this:  At the top of the 1,000-foot mountainous peaks of Meteora, Greece, monasteries have been built…hundreds of years ago. Their inaccessible location provides safety and, at the same time, offers them a chance to escape the cares and concerns of the world.

Up until the last century, goods and visitors, had to be winched up in a basket that was hand powered by the monks. Those who made the ascent found the ride a terrifying experience, what with the basket swaying and swinging.

One of these tourists, recording his adventure, admitted to getting nervous about halfway up the cliff. That’s when he noticed the rope holding the basket seemed old and frayed. Thinking that he might relieve his fear, at least somewhat, he asked one of the brothers who was riding with him, “How often do you change the rope?” Without a moment’s hesitation, the reply came back, “Whenever it breaks!” Continue reading