Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Fighting the skirmishes, battles and wars...

Everyday in our lives we face nasty little trials... I call them skirmishes, battles and wars.

These little trials come at us in many forms. Occassionally, we get into little skuffles with our loved ones, neighbors or friends. These are skirmishes, little battles that really don't end up being a whole lot. At the time they seem like the end of the world but never-the-less are merely bumps on the road we march. We often times find ourselves in greater conflicts. These are the battles. These are more important struggles that add up to knowledge. Unlike a skirmish, there tend to be injuries in battle. One side or the other, often both, end up batttered and bruised. It is from these battles we learn and grow. Hoping to one day win the war. The war is this trial we call life. It is made up of many skirmishes and battles fought along the way. We fight with ourselves or others. Each, hopefully moving one step closer to victory.

Taking sides in the battle

There are two sides to every battle, even if there are multiple combatants. Sometimes we get drug into the battle, even though we don't really want to be there. It is at these times that our side is chosen for us. We must fight to save ourselves as we are now right in the thick of it, like it or not. There are other times where we have no choice but to join in the battle willingly. We have chosen the side based on a decision to get involved. There are also the battles we choose to fight because of what or who we believe in. These are the most precious battles. These battles are ones that we choose to fight, not because of stakes that are involved, but because of a principle, ethic or friend that we feel we must save. These battles are not won by the number of soldiers that march off the field, but by the principles and ethics upheld at the end.

Winning the War is the main goal in any struggle. Often, its not the number of battles you won, but the quality of the lessons you learned from those you lost. In the end, there is only one victor.

May you learn from your skirmishes, gain knowledge from your lost battles and come out of the war stronger for the experience.

No comments: