I read about the number of soldiers who
lost their lives in our involvement in Vietnam
and it breaks my heart. Sons, brothers, fathers,
husbands, and friends numbering fifty-eight
thousand and to this day no one gives a good
reason why. Fifty-eight thousand young men
died and we still wonder why. Today in
the reading of Samuel 4:1-11 we hear that
the Philistines went into battle with Israel
and defeated them killing about four thousand.
The people of Israel could not understand and s
ent for the Ark of Lord from Shiloh that it
might go into battle and save them from
the grasp of their enemy. The Philistines
drew on their courage and engaged in battle
and slayed thirty thousand foot soldiers.
The Israelis could not understand and
felt betrayed by God, but God had not
made any promises. Today as I write
there are thousands of men and women
dying in battle against the tyrants of
our enemies and we continue to wonder
why does this warfare have to exist?
Jesus taught us the two commandments
to love God above all things and
our neighbor as ourselves.
It seems so simple. A four-letter word:
Love. Love of others, if taken literally,
seemingly would end all warfare, murders,
fighting, burning, and looting. But it is
difficult to love when these things take place.
Still we must try and teach by example.
The process is slow, step by step,
but we must begin.
Stanski
January 13, 2022 ^
Steve Haarman 