Master Sergeant Morely was a good man.  A simple man with a simple, no nonsense and direct manner.  I served with him in the mid 1980′s at RAF Lakenheath, UK.  We were in the 48th Security Police Squadron together.  Morely related to me what his first day in Vietnam was like.  He was a military working dog (MWD) handler back then and just fresh from school when he landed and found himself in what he thought was a tropical paradise.  Even when mortars began to drop around the airfield, he was mesmerized by the beauty of their color and the deep thud of the concussion of their explosions.  It was not until he was jerked down into a foxhole did he realize he could have been killed.  Welcome to the jungle.

I realized this past week that if I am not careful, I will find myself watching mortars drop into my life without a care because I am in awe of their terrible beauty.  The explosions, the sounds and the damage they inflict is really impressive.  What I need to wake up to is that were it not for the grace of God – one of those explosions could rip me or my family apart!

Think about it.  Mortars dropped into Tiger Woods’ life, Jon and Kate’s life, even Hulk Hogan’s life and these are just the unfortunates who’s lives are splashed in public not to mention the countless families who are suffering like barrages in private.   These mortar rounds are the temptations of sin (adultery, unfaithfulness, greed, envy and all manner of strife).  They land and with spectacular effect and rip apart lives eviscerating spouses and children with their deadly shrapnel.  Welcome to the jungle.

What’s a man (or woman) to do?  Lean in close to the Lord and garner the wisdom that keeps one alert for “incoming.”  Pray for wisdom to know when to duck and cover.  The enemy will lob all manner of ordinance at us – right into our own personal “green zones” where we think we’re safe.  The best defense is a good offense… being ready and prepared.  I don’t want to wait until I or a member of my family is being rushed to the M.A.S.H. unit for medical attention to take this war serious.  Yes, we’re at war and it’s a war against your soul (1 Peter 2: 11).

A great place to start:  Daily reading the Proverbs and praying for wisdom as sons, daughters, husbands, wives, moms, dads and men and women of God.