A War Not Won

THURS., NOV. 11, 1982, 5:12 AM
FARM, STUDY

You are surprised at this title, o son (or as surprised as you can be this early on a warm November morn), but your country was involved in a long and costly war, for years, which is being commemorated on this day. There is a time for war and a time for peace, said the Preacher, so why should not I comment?

There was a long war in Vietnam, even though it was never officially declared. The reason?… to halt the spread of communism in that area of the earth. So your fighting forces used the tactics of modern warfare short of massive bombing and nuclear weapons. The opponents used guerilla warfare in more effective ways than your forces could counter. Your military finally withdrew… and even the short history records it as a war not won. How do I see it?

Sometimes wars truly liberate people from tyranny… or prevent such tyranny from becoming widespread and dominant. This is a commendable result in human terms, but it is less compelling in spiritual ones. The development of spirit, which is the major reason for human life in the earth, can occur under any and all circumstances. Oppression is a challenge to spirit, and many fail the test. But others persist and grow, so, while wars of liberation have human merit, the spiritual consequence is not striking.

The spiritual value of a war comes from the need to and the opportunities for sacrifice of various sorts. Heroes emerge, sometimes from ordinary individuals who never would have shown such bravery in the job back home. Some of these survive and live on. Others are wounded and must live a handicapped life, which is a new challenge to spirit. Some succeed others fail. Still others die in heroic, sacrificial acts, and the gains from this must be realized in other realms. The gains are not in vain, understand. True sacrifice and giving for others can bring spiritual growth… as easily in realms of spirit as in this more tangible one.

Yet many of those more than 58,000 whose names are being read in Washington this day, and on, died foolishly or without honor. Thus, their opportunities here in the earth were taken away, and their deaths were merely the senseless result of present weapons and warfare. Spiritual opportunities lost deserve to be mourned, even considering the truth that others shall surely follow. If you do take “time out” to bemoan an opportunity missed (even deliberately passed up) know that others may be missed as you focus on the mourning, so the loss is compounded. The more prudent behavior after a lost opportunity is to look soon for the next one, even in place of feeling sorrow for the one lost.