“The more you seek security, the less of it you have. But the more you seek opportunity, the more likely it is that you will achieve the security that you desire.” –Brian Tracy




Have you seen the movie Lone Survivor?

I do not know whether to recommend it or not…simply because I don’t think I breathed much throughout the film. There is blood and violence and language (so if any of those things will give you the vapors – stay away from this film!). Great care was taken to tell the story as near to the actual events as possible. And those events are astounding.

You witness courage and endurance and willingness to lay it all on the line in ways that still make me catch my breath.

I marvel that there are men who would be so willing, at risk of great bodily harm, to protect others.

If there is no further take-away from these true events, knowing that there are such men should cause us to pause and be thankful.

In our narcissistic, self-centered, “it’s all about me” world, there are those who still serve the virtue of selfless endeavor and a willingness to engage themselves fully in the mission, regardless of the personal cost.

I am not a special forces operative (nor have I ever been one!) but the same idea of selflessness needs to permeate my own daily mission.

If my goal is to make everything that involves me easy and safe, cosseted away from any challenge or danger, I will fail to accomplish what I need to do.

If, on the other hand, I change the focus and instead of security, I value what needs to be done, I will complete the goal.

Training, cohesive cooperation with one another, and disciplined skill marked these men.

They were formidable defenders of freedom.

I pray in our own small way, we will learn from that “all in” mentality and bring our best to the day’s to do list – each and every day.

And for those who have passed through hellish conditions and made it back home again, may we learn how to honor and respect and thank those men and women who don a uniform and serve – in the military, in law enforcement, firefighters – where ever they are, may we see their willingness to leap and serve with new eyes of gratitude and find new ways to say thanks!

Matthew 16:25, King James Version (KJV): "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.“

John 15:13, New International Version (NIV): "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”