“Strength” (Isaiah 40:28-31; Hebrews 12:12; Matthew 25:35; 6:11; Mark 9:41) [Sun Tzu series 7 – 17]

Strength, it is said, is husbanded with care –
An art, controlling factors active there;
If poured away in useless active chores,
Advantage shifts to enemy from yours.

Take care of those around you, if you please –
Once you’ve arrived, ensure they take their ease,
For rest rejuvenates the soul, morale;
Your need of it is key, as time will tell.

Replete with food, your sated, well-fed men,
Full stomachs, with their rest, will rise again
With strength renewed, and mood filled to the top;
They’ll do their best, give everything they’ve got.

So waiting is a time of rest and ease;
Short-term, that is – conditioned-strength will please
Them all if they can move with sleek physique,
Attaining all the goals their leaders seek.

Arrival at one’s goal enables this –
Proximity, means men will not be blixed;
With calm precision, discipline gives peace
Among the men, as each one takes his ease.

The opposite does just reverse of these –
The weary and exhausted need release
From toil and struggle of their endless road,
Disorder, struggling under heavy loads.

When they arrive, opponents rested are;
They’re hungry, famished, they have come so far,
And now must struggle with no rest in sight,
Except their loss to strength amidst the fight.

Almighty Voice, a Cree from Central Plains,
Called out to stronger forces, “Play the game –
You’ve got good food; we eat the bark of trees;
So share your grub – tomorrow fight with me.”

But soldiers don’t adhere to higher rules –
“Use every means to beat those silly fools”;
But Jesus said, “they’re not the enemy –
It’s satan who needs bringing to his knees.

“So share your water-cup with enemy”;
“Break bread together, then you’ll Father please”;
“Draw strength from God, rise up on Eagle’s wings”;
“Make straight your roads – of victory you’ll sing”.

The problem’s not with soldiers in the fight;
It’s with their leaders thinking, “It’s alright
To sacrifice the lives of kids to gain
The goals we wish this season to attain.”

The world is filled with strife, but Kingdom-layer
Gives other options in response to prayer;
Injustice is at root – “I want to be
Oppressor, just like him – my strength’s the key”.

One guy in World War I held in his sights
Opposing soldier – captive in the fight;
He let him live to fight in World War II;
The prisoner’s name was “Hitler” – no one knew –

What would become of captive once set free;
But that’s the case as well with you and me –
New chance at life has options here and now;
But most folks want the fight which war allows.

Thanks Lord for this.

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