“Conditions” (Matthew 16:1ff; 10:42; Mark 13:32; Luke 16:20ff; judges 15:4; Psalms 23; 2; 11) [Reflections on Sun Tsu's Art Of War #12-1B and 2, 3, 4, 5A]
Conditions must be right, Sun Tsu points out,
For one to use a fire to bring about
Advantage to your side – two aspects here –
And need to pay attention he makes clear.First thing is season, plus a day that’s dry
For conflagration to reach to the sky;
No point if rainy season deluge brings;
If a rain, just put away your match and things.The second is for fire a windy day,
To blow the smoke and flames the other way;
Be sure you’re upwind or your troops will be
The victim, not the victor – have to flee.So set a group of folks to monitor
Those two conditions, lest the army stir
Themselves into a needless use of fire;
Or lose control, with forfeit of desire.No need to wait for fire within their camp
(Unless conditions outside still are damp);
If dry conditions with attending gale
Can harnessed be – then yours is victor’s tale.The wind that spreads the fire dies down night,
So time your use of wind to come out right;
The sun heats up the land, so wind picks up,
But cools at night, so you’d be out of luck.Love burns as well when wellsprings are quite dry;
The winds of hope and change beneath the sky
Spread quickly through each day ’till quiet night,
When worries creep back in, including fright.So keep your pastures watered, grasses green;
A dry sirocco-wind has often been
Calamitous to those whom drought has hit –
For spirits burn from dryness ’cause of it.Folks stand in need of water ’neath the sun,
An opening for water on the tongue;
Small gestures like a finger-drop, or cup
Of water, in such cases, is enough.Offense and defense both are subject to
Conditions parched, then dampened down, renewed;
Which opens up an arsenal of ways
To counter evil’s conflagrating days.Lord, thanks for helping me to see how this
Is all a part of heaven’s tender kiss –
Your word refreshing is, I must admit,
And now I see the photo’s perfect fit.Thanks Lord for this.
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