“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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