Linkages (Sun Tzu 1:9b) (John 17:20-26; 15:26-16:16)

Advantages accrue to those
Who take advice, the Tao (the flows),
In ways which unfold seamlessly –
The victor rolls on endlessly.

Here’s how it all links up, says Sun,
Your homework done, and checked – if run
Through master plan which he calls, “shih”
(Strategic power) won’t see defeat.

The purpose of strategic power?
Imbalance – used as hour by hour
The foe’s imbalance is maintained,
And ‘situations’ are arranged.

For local aspects will come up;
Field-leadership, while being tough,
Must also use each circumstance
To orchestrate this fancy dance.

Ch’uan – (power’s imbalance) stays
To your advantage in this way:
Each aspect's used expediently,
To leverage it, with planners’ say.

So inter-active is the route;
The flow’s proactive when it suits
The overall objective here –
To keep imbalance – keep that clear.

Use forces thus, strategically,
For structure’s focus you can see
Lies in imbalance – that’s the key –
Mesh plan with serendipity.

So ‘ordinary’ lays the base;
Avail yourself when e’er the case
Brings helpful circumstance to fore,
And “modified” yields even more.

Combat-power as here laid out,
Weighs carefully what’s all about;
For other side will do it too,
To bring imbalance back on you.

“Strategic level of intent”
Lays base – commander must assent
To keep with power’s upper hand,
Established ’fore he leaves his land.

But then, adapted on the field,
In ways in which he does not yield
Advantage of imbalance – yes,
And act in ways no one can guess.

The structure keeps things flexible –
While master-plans must forward go;
Advantage seized (if it be so)
Dance keeps imbalance on the foe.

So ‘ordinary’ paves the way
But ‘extra-ordinary’ day
Emerges from dynamic mix
Of routine life and bags of tricks.

The field-commander bridges these –
The plan (which makes home office pleased)
And circumstance which flows each day –
When mix is right, he wins the day.

Christ’s final prayer? For unity –
That we in Him remain and see
Quite clearly His intent throughout,
While Spirit guides us all about.

In Sun and Son it all links up;
A break, and life out here gets rough;
In Christ, with Spirit guiding life,
Imbalance works for us in strife.

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