Our
2000 Sowing Seeds Ministry Writing Contest Winner for Devotions is Tom Spence.
Tom is the President and founder of A FEW GOOD MEN, Inc. He began active
commissioned service in the Marine Corps in 1979. He also served in command and
staff assignments with the United Nations. He is a 1979 graduate of Oklahoma
State University and completed his Ph.D. His articles and commentaries are
published in the U.S. Naval Proceedings, Marine Corps Gazette, and Armed Forces
Journal International. Tom and his wife, Sharman have two children, Heather (22)
and Christopher (15 going on 22).
The Spence's reside in Burns Flat, Oklahoma.
“The Crane” By Tom Spence
One of the
prerequisites of an expedited retrograde of allied forces at the end of the Gulf
War was the emplacement of a United Nations force in Iraq and Kuwait.
In 1991, I found myself the senior Marine Officer in the United Nations
Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM). The
duty consisted of about a week in the DMZ followed by one or two days of rest in
Kuwait City. The destruction of
Kuwait City during the war was significant, but not so remarkable as the speed
and visibility of the post war construction and restoration.
I was
driving to Kuwait City from the DMZ with a vehicle full of officers from other
contingents. After traveling a few
miles, I asked the Indian officer seated in the front passenger position where
his contingent apartment was. He
said it was near the big crane. I
replied that must be Rumaithiya. The
Russian in the back seat said that he thought it was near Salmiya, and in turn
the Polish officer indicated that it was between the Fourth and Fifth Ring
Roads. The areas we had
described were all in the same locale; however, the Indian officer repeated his
request to just go to the big crane. The
atmosphere in the vehicle tensed, as it was apparent that our offerings made
this officer uncomfortable. We
drove for another fifteen minutes in total silence until the Indian officer
realized the temporary nature of his landmark and blurted out, “I hope they
didn’t move that crane.”
The relief
in the vehicle was evidenced by the infectious laughter for the rest of the
ride. I delivered everyone to their
desired destination on that day but have kept the lesson of that short journey
with me ever since. Our fast paced
lives make it easy to rationalize seeking landmarks in this world.
Landmarks provide the terminal guidance we need to close in on our
objective, but they can also trap us into conforming to the transitory demands
of this world.
As a Marine,
I often found myself issuing and receiving orders that required the use of map,
compass, and towards the end of my career--a Global Positioning System (GPS)
receiver. Plans and orders are
great things, but quickly lose their permanence when you encounter the obstacle
on the ground that wasn't depicted on the map or when bullets are impacting near
you. The Marine that understood and
had internalized the intent of an order usually found a way to accomplish his
mission in the midst of whatever chaos the day provided him
Are you
focused on a temporary landmark as you begin each day's journey? Are you insisting on executing a plan that you have laid out
for your life? Have you invested
your future in temporal guides? Don't
place your trust in the landmarks of this world.
Find your guidance where David did-- in the rock and the fortress that is
God.
Ps 31:1-6: In
you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in
your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock
of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set
for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O
LORD, the God of truth. Once you have asked God to lead and guide you, approach
your day with strength and a renewed heart.
Ps 31:24: Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Send encouragement to Tom at trspence@afewgoodmen.net