General Jody’s MARCHING ORDERS

In today’s politically charged environment, many are protesting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It seems easy to criticize the decisions made. But for a moment, i would like to stop and reflect on the words of President Theodore Roosevelt.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

When you see a soldier or veteran today, remember to thank the man who is/has been in the arena!

I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to go to the shooting range with my friend Chris Merritt in Richmond.  What a great time!  When shooting the clay pigeons, you are required to focus on the target and to be aware of your surroundings.  If you do not focus and aim true, it is very difficult to hit the moving target.  You have to be alert because you don’t know exactly where the next target will come from.

It is the same way in life.  You must focus on the target, the goal, the calling of God in your life.  You have to be aware of your surroundings and alert to the opportunities that God places in your path.  Often times, achieving your goals and objectives are like hitting a moving target.  The key to success in this situation is to attempt to place the shot where the target will be when the buckshot gets there, not where it is currently.  In other words, plan ahead and think things thru, not just living for the moment.  At the same time, you can’t shoot too far ahead or you miss it also.  There is a delicate balance that will cause you to succeed.

Where are you shooting?  Are you leading the target or way behind it?  Are you so far in front of where God is taking you that you are missing His move right now?