“Paternoster” (Matthew 27:54; 10:39; 5:1 to; 6:6ff; John 15:13; Isaiah 40-56) [Reflections on Sun Tsu's Art Of War #12-2-3-4-5B]
We had a flood some years ago,
A sopping mess in floor below;
Things were not gone, as in a fire,
Just useless – soaking one’s desire.Sun Tzu said if you flood the land,
One thing you’ll come to understand
Is, when it dries, the booty’s wrecked,
So pillaging you can forget.The crops all sprout; land’s washed away;
The houses, chattels, if they stay,
Are useless; so think twice before
You flood some land to win some war.A flood is good to show your “Strength”
(Not “Smarts”, as you will see at length);
It can be used to split a foe –
Makes victory a-winning go.So fire can mean destruction, loot;
While flood means strength – attack is moot,
For you can’t follow up with speed
A land that’s soaked with mud and reeds.Lord, “Isolating” actions here
Can limit size of foe and fear;
Both sides can do it – in this case,
It works – but often cost is waste.And fire, like Ridley, Latimer,
Burned at the stake, like candles were;
Were end-events on faith-attacks
In England – people stomach lacked –For more of such atrocious fires,
They burned against their deep desires
To live together side-by-side
In peace – told satan, “Take a ride” –For “We want no more of that flame;
For this, to all, the Savior came;
Just like the soldier at the cross
Said, “This mistake has caused great loss”.And yet out from such funeral pyres,
We all have learned to shift desires
To match Yours, Lord – that Kingdom come;
And Father’s will on earth be done.”Thanks Lord for this.
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