“C-Student?” (Matthew 13; John 15) [Reflections on Ralph D. Sawyer's Translation of One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies - Battle Tactics of Chinese Warfare #49-50]

A saying goes about the grades
Of students, where it groundwork lays
For life beyond the schoolyard fights
To businesses in later life –

“The C’s will rise above the B’s;
And A’s will work for foolish C’s”
Or words to that effect, at least,
In this paired-section is released –

A solid sample of a “C”
Whose study-notes I think we see
Within the covers of this tome –
His principle, example’s blown.

It is the thing which teachers see
In marking papers of the “C’s” –
“You’re sort-of right”; half-marks perhaps;
But not what A’s would say ’bout that.

“ ‘Don’t step out from security’;
‘Be vigilant to dangers see’,
Are paired in fact in dance of war;
Examples aren’t as good – find more.”

These two are really ’bout the “c’hi”,
Or psycho-strength both sides agree
Is critical to coming fight –
Preserving it is what’s in sight.

Lord, what I’m hearing, when flipped ’round,
Is “Spirit’s high, don’t mess around –
Await the dissipation time
When c’hi subsides – you’ll make out fine.

“So don’t let Satan’s evil ways
Though feisty, spirited, engage
Your spirit, let it dissipate;
Stay in security and wait.”

And “When you’re deep in evil turf,
It’s best that you remain alert;
Abide in Me, do what you’re asked;
Let danger come, then go at last.”

“Don’t be provoked”, is what I hear;
“Abide in Me, love casts out fear”;
“It’s not so much all win-or-lose,
But more, let Kingdom-presence loose.”

But what I also hear in this
Is, I would really be remiss
If I did not reflect on self,
Before with other’s lives I dealt.

“Security”, and “Danger” too,
Are part of life, so best we choose
To look at self in mirror clear,
And see what weaknesses appear –

You said we need our soil prepared
For Kingdom-crops to grow – if scared,
Or greedy, quite distracted, or
We’re hurt (so touchy from before) –

It’s best we deal with that ahead –
Let Holy Spirit deal instead
With us – not some big project now –
So crop can grow, as You allow.

Thanks Lord for this.

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