Paul Whitaker
15th October 2006, 05:03 PM (17:03)
Today our piano player was gone at church.
You haven't lived until you hear a group of soldiers singing "Amazing Grace" accepella - and when they got to the verse
"Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home"
They knew what they were singing about. Most, if not all have been on the front lines patrolling Baghdad. All lived through the mortars earlier this week - they landed on their base - and all were giving praise that there were no casualities among the soldiers in the 4th this week.
I looked around as they sang - almost all men - just a handful of women. Many sang with their eyes closed - some had their eyes open looking up - most had tears running down their cheeks. But they sang with gusto and in three part harmony. It was absolutely beautiful.
After being around the military for a while, I have realized that there is a real pecking order between enlisted and officer. In church, and especially this morning, all of that seemed to just slide away as we stood there - colonels standing next to corporals giving praise for being alive and God having brought us all this far.
A lot has been written about what's wrong in the ranks - and not nearly enough, in my opinion about what's right. These men and women have been out here facing deadly force every day for the past year. They will all be headed home in November, maybe even in time for Thanksgiving. I would imagine that many will have some sort of stress related issues to deal with once they get home. I don't see how they can't, really. This is a tough, tough place. I'd ask you to remember them all in your prayers. That God will keep them safe in this last month they're here and give them peace of heart and mind when they return home.
Peace to you all!
You haven't lived until you hear a group of soldiers singing "Amazing Grace" accepella - and when they got to the verse
"Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home"
They knew what they were singing about. Most, if not all have been on the front lines patrolling Baghdad. All lived through the mortars earlier this week - they landed on their base - and all were giving praise that there were no casualities among the soldiers in the 4th this week.
I looked around as they sang - almost all men - just a handful of women. Many sang with their eyes closed - some had their eyes open looking up - most had tears running down their cheeks. But they sang with gusto and in three part harmony. It was absolutely beautiful.
After being around the military for a while, I have realized that there is a real pecking order between enlisted and officer. In church, and especially this morning, all of that seemed to just slide away as we stood there - colonels standing next to corporals giving praise for being alive and God having brought us all this far.
A lot has been written about what's wrong in the ranks - and not nearly enough, in my opinion about what's right. These men and women have been out here facing deadly force every day for the past year. They will all be headed home in November, maybe even in time for Thanksgiving. I would imagine that many will have some sort of stress related issues to deal with once they get home. I don't see how they can't, really. This is a tough, tough place. I'd ask you to remember them all in your prayers. That God will keep them safe in this last month they're here and give them peace of heart and mind when they return home.
Peace to you all!