(For the girl I lit the candles for)

I never wanted to be an armchair warrior type and mostly avoided the war, shooting video games growing up.  I didn’t want to be a paper Napoleon commanding his toy soldiers.  Yet, I’ve found military conflict compelling, not so much in the violence or bloodshed, but the strategic principles and the sometimes underlying battle between light and darkness.

We used to talk about one of the characters in Saving Private Ryan who calls out to God with the words from the Psalms before sniping enemies – Blessed be the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.

In Malaysia, we are asked as children to list three professions we are interested in as grown-ups.  Mine were usually some combination of teacher, soccer player, or firefighter.  No mention of any military, police, or other law enforcement.

Yet, I think God trained me well through many forms and avenues.  Despite everything, I’m still a hell of a fighter, having done it on an individual and organizational level.  I feel great peace and gratitude when I see how this part of my life turned out.

There’s an ancient Chinese saying, resurrected and quoted by Bruce Lee – “Better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.” To be adequately armed, equipped, and prepared over the opposite regardless of environment and circumstances.