On Azimuth

  11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 English Standard Version I arrived at Fort Leonard Wood in 1981, an ill-disciplined overweight long-haired young man. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I had always thought being a soldier was a cool thing. My father, grandfathers, and all my uncles had served in the military at one time or another. Despite my warm feelings toward military service, nothing really prepared me for the level of discipline required to be a good soldier. But I preserved and graduated from Basic Training. Surprisingly, I went on to make the military a career, eventually earning my commission and attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring. Along the way, I developed the military habits of discipline which served me well as a soldier and often as a civilian. I have also found that in some ways they help me in my spiri...

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 English Standard Version When I was in late elementary school, like many young boys, I was easily distracted. My penchant for being “off-task” led my parents to seek help and have me tested. This was back in the late sixties, before such acronyms as ADD or ADHD and the associated medications. After a substantial regimen of tests and counseling, they told my parents that I had no issues regarding intellect, but I did have issues with discipline. So, my parents embarked upon a long effort to instill discipline in their distracted son, with intermittent good results. Eventually, I developed enough discipline to do well in university and professionally; but, I s...

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35 English Standard Version Modern Western-Christianity does not place much emphasis on meditation. In this, we’ve departed from a long Biblical tradition. Perhaps we’re afraid of the eastern mystics. In their practice one meditates to lose oneself. In the Christian practice we meditate to hear from the Lord and find ourselves. Or perhaps we think that we’re so busy that we do not have time to slow down and be quiet, even for a few minutes. The world presses in with thousands of minor demands militantly clamoring for our attention, each claiming preeminence over the other. This incessant din rings in the ears of our soul drowning out the still small voice the old prophet heard on the mountain. If it’s not the legitimate cares and concerns of our lives, then often we habitually fill every waking moment with some sort of digital input, our cellphon...