Some contemplative thoughts..

This is something I posted on facebook, and thought it worthy of posting here:

 

I have learned in the past couple weeks that soldiers in the Civil War (as in any other war, I imagine) never chose when or where they would fight and die. It was often by accident or fate, and never predetermined.

 

 The same is true of us in our own daily lives, in that we never choose when or where the battles and troubles in our lives will happen, but only what we will do with them. We win some a...nd we lose some, and most often we can't see where this war will end. Our end is never certain, and our path is always unknown, but we quite honestly have no choice in the matter. We have to move forward or we die, and the enemy wins. I am reminded of a quote by Theoden, in LOTR, as his last few men are still defending Helms Deep: "If we must end, then I would have them make SUCH an end! As to be worthy of remembrance!"

 

This is why I admire the soldiers of the past and most certainly of today, is because they have no idea what end they will have, but they stand for what they believe to be right, and fight and die anyway.

 

 The men at Bloody angle or at Maries heights didn't know how things would end up, and most likely figured that they would lose the day, but they formed lines and fixed bayonets and stormed through the hell that is war anyway, just the same as a young US Marine gets the order to gear up for another patrol, and wonders "why the hell am I here?", but he gears up any way.

 

This is what I envy and admire about the men and women who serve, is that they have personal bravery. If I must have an end, I would make SUCH an end, as to be worthy of remembrance.