Today I was reading an entry from one of my journals dated, March 25, 2003. This was just 1 month after my separation and many mixed emotions are, in and throughout, this particular entry, but, one I find very interesting. In the midst of my pain, I didn't realize how God was already showing me a way through. Funny how we don't always see His Hand IN our situation but notice He was there the entire time AFTER we've come through. It must have been the beginning of the Gulf War and there was enormous coverage on television of everything transpiring in the Middle East. I journaled a story about some soldiers making a journey to a particular destination with a reporter by the name of David Bloom. They had been on this journey for about 6 days in the desert and were headed to Baghdad. David reported later, that it was a treacherous LONG and SLOW journey. The trucks were only able to move at a pace of 20 mph. While they were slowly moving forward they had been ferociously bombarded along the way. He reported 20 casualties, 7 POW's, and numerous wounded in this 6 day battle. The Infantry was beginning to tire and become discouraged when, in addition to the enormity of loss up to this point, a Sand Storm hit the brigade and virtually paralyzed the troops. They lost all contact, for a while, with Centcom (Central Command), they hadn't heard the President speak to assure America we were going to win, and they were unable to hear about the small victories that were occurring all around. The only thing this Infantry could see during their journey was their losses/casualties.
As I'm reading my own entry about this time of History taking place, I began to assimilate the events unfolding in my own life. Although, it seems like my journey is long, and treacherous. I feel like there have been casualties in my own household and I'm not even sure if survival is an option anymore. I look around and I can't see anything outside of my own Sand Storm. I'm paralyzed and blinded by my pain, loneliness and loss. I feel like there's no way out of this storm. I've lost contact with my own Centcom (Central Command), which is God. I can't hear His voice, I can't see Him and the worst....I can't even feel Him. How will I know what to do, where to go? When will this Sand Storm end? What's going on around me? Is anyone out there? I've put myself spiritually in the same place that these soldiers were physically and I'm feeling their sense of confusion and doubt.
Then, all of a sudden, contact was made with this particular Infantry and as the reporter finished telling the story he said what got them through were a couple of things...Night Goggles, that's right! When the vision of the road they were on began to disappear during the storm the soldiers relied on their training. You see, their natural man was scared and wasn't sure they could make it through the storm, but their training prepared them for battle and so they knew it was time to pull out the Night Vision Goggles! These Goggles were created to pierce through the darkness and show the way more clearly. They were created for this purpose only! I began to think about how that applied to my life when the Lord showed me in Psalms 119:105, His Word says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a LIGHT unto my path". God's Word is our NIGHT VISION GOGGLES! Let His Word lead you. When you don't see clearly and you can't feel him and you've lost all sense of direction in your life and there seems to be no contact with CENTCOM....let His Word guide you! The last thing I noticed this Infantry did, was to keep moving! They didn't let the storm halt their mission. Even though everything was coming against them to prevent advancement, they kept moving forward.
Don't GIVE UP! Keep Moving FORWARD! The pace isn't relative. It's the fact that you don't stop, you keep advancing. Any movement is a sign of LIFE! Just MOVE!!! Remember, when the path gets confusing and your way seems unclear and you've lost all contact with CENTCOM....put on your NIGHT GOGGLES!!! His Word will always be your LIGHT to lead the way!!!
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