Day 19

Qualification Day: To be or not to be, that was the question. Answer? No go! Turns out that a morning riddled with lightning, and torrential downpours don't bode well for firing METAL weapons. It was the storm coming from the southwest and was expected to last all morning and into the afternoon...which it did. So as has been done countless times thus far, the schedule was readjusted to push all of our remaining in-house lectures into today. It was actually a pretty good bunch of lectures. The best, by far, was the presentation on IED's...or "Improvised Explosive Devices." They are the #1 killer of coalition forces in Oz and are expected to be into the distant future. Cheap, crude, but very effective and deadly. Often, the enemy plants them roadside and they are detonated under our convoys or suicide bombers put them in cars or strap them to their bodies and self-detonate them. The explosions are thunderous, deadly and far and away account for the majority of this country's sons and daughters who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Made from old mortar shells and stuffed with explosive, simple things like cell phones, timers, and household items make up this weapon of destruction. We were taught by a Special Forces guy...you know, the kind of guy who knows 20 different ways to kill you. He'd been there/done that and so a perfect person to teach. We also received instruction on topographical map reading (in preps for our upcoming convoy training), a tutorial on the 50 cal machine gun, the M249 "SAW", and the M240, and some training on "non-lethal weapons." OK, that was interesting. "Non-lethal" in Oz. Hmmmm....

This evening, I was invited out to the authentic Mexican restaurant outside the front gate. It was a beautiful evening and escaping Army chow was a welcome end to my day. I enjoyed a great meal and conversation then headed back over the interstate and onto the base. On the way, though, the aroma in the air caught my attention. Looking down, all I initially saw was a bunch of ground litter and trash. But buried beyond that was this fragrant honeysuckle (actual photo below). Oh, how I love the smell of honeysuckle. It reminds me of Kansas so much. Dorothy has planted it around our home and we both smell the blossoms each Spring and comment how we love it so. So buried amongst the trash was something beautiful where most people probably just ignore. Tonight, though, I enjoyed God's creation...perfect in every way. It goes to prove that even when things are trashy and seemingly not even worth a glance, something wonderful might be missed. Certainly puts the phrase "Stop the smell the roses" to the test...or should I say, "Stop the smell the honeysuckle." Yea, it's the little life-lessons and little insertions of God's beauty in my daily walk that I treasure so much. Plus, any reminder of Dorothy and seeing the smile on her face when they bloom and she smells them is a gift.

<BREAK BREAK>

That's how we totally change the topic in a Navy message. :-) This last paragraph was written about an hour after everything above. It was about 10pm, lights were turned off in the barracks and I felt an incredible tug to go out for a run. After all, the stars were out. About 1/4 mile from the barracks, there is a 1 mile asphalt oval. During the day, it's murder-by-asphalt-boredom. Tonight, though...everything but that. One thing I know is that when one sense is taken away or greatly subdued, the others are heightened. Such was this as the lights normally on to illuminate the path were out tonight. It was pitch black for most of the run. As I moved away from the barracks and parking lot, the majesty above revealed itself. Thousands of stars. At times, I was running and only looking straight up. At other times, my eyes were closed and I listened: steady breathing, my Brooks hitting the pavement, the night creatures making their repetitive sounds in the woods, the bullfrogs in the distant wetlands, and the gentle breeze rustling the trees. Then as if God wanted to put a big bow tie on it all...honeysuckle.  Not only once, but twice each time on the loop. As I ran by, I held my hands out and wide open, closed my eyes, and breathed in deeply as to take it all in and store it away. Oh how awesome it was! 

As I finished my run just shy of 5 miles, I thought about how these same stars shine above Kansas and Oz. I can look up and they will always be there, no matter where I am. My thoughts then turned to the One who painted the sky with those stars. He, too, is looking down in Kansas and wrapping His arms around Dorothy, Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. Here on the Yellow Brick Road, He does the same for me and will continue to do so all the way to Oz and back. He will never leave me (or them) nor forsake me (or them.) He promised!  "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for your message tonight. Message received...loud and clear."

Goodnight, everyone.