“Timing” [Reflections on Ralph D. Sawyer's Translation of One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies - Battle Tactics of Chinese Warfare # 39-40]

There’s pros and cons to timing’s place;
Initiative-response – are case
In point, for it’s both “Strength” and “Mind” –
Get out ahead? Come from behind?

The same is true in sportsman’s field –
First mover tastes that winning’s real,
But can burn out, lose in the end,
Unable to have spirits mend.

A shift took place from noble’s role
In war, increasingly the foe
Was made of massive strong arrays,
Not in the smaller skilled displays.

So psyching out the foe had changed –
Still needed, but now rearranged;
It called for different subtlety –
Those slow to change, just could not see –

That though the same in some respects,
One now must shift, or soon regret
One’s slowness to stay up-to-date;
Mis-timing – jump or hesitate?

So wait out----(hit supplies);
Conserve your zeal (in time it dies);
A balance of the mind and strength
Was needed short-term, and at length.

Lord, what I hear when this flips ’round,
So love replaces meanness found
In world beneath the Kingdom-layer,
Is role for word in Scripture, prayer –

For centering is what we need –
Historical, and what You feed
Us with when rhema-words, and peace
We have in You – or can, at least –

Fear, and exhaustion, laxity,
Three dangers facing enemies;
To which I hear, “Fear not”, “Courage”,
“Rise up on wings like Eagle has –

As he soars high on updrafts strong”;
Don’t waste your strength, wing-flapping’s wrong;
The timing of your use of strength
In Christ, brings victory at length.

Lord, I have seen this in Your work –
When doors were closed, I’ve been a jerk
To sally forth, when pause and wait
Their openness to needed grace –

Resulted in Your love’s effect –
Like horse in mud up to its neck –
“Need ‘Help’ or ‘Oats’ ?” I’ve learned to say;
For oats gives strength, prolongs the day –

When health’s accepted – for without
Such outside help, without a doubt,
There’ll be no freedom (Jubilee),
For sin en-traps – they can’t break free –

Until they will allow such help
As others give – their hearts must melt –
Until they join in body-life;
Their nightmare stays through dawning light.

Thanks Lord for this.

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