Lead by example!

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2016)

In honour of remembrance day, I went and watched "Hacksaw Ridge" at the theatre Friday night with some friends.
I thought it was going to be good, but that's an understatement;
WOW what a movie!
It's my 2nd favourite movie of the year hands down, and so fitting for what's going on in our world today.
There are so many levels to it that I was able to connect with and apply to my own life which I seem to do from any thing I watch or read these days.
With never having served in the Canadian military, I truly can never fully understand or appreciate what men and woman have to go thru in war. I have the utmost respect for any human willing to lay their life on the line for their country and communities, military/police/fire fighters etc.
Even though there are many things that greatly saddens me within these institutions, especially the taking of human life, as I believe all life is precious; no one deserves to have their life taken too soon. I do believe in justice and I believe the best system we can have here for that, is some type of prison system where the person has lost their freedom to do what they want. Maybe for more severe crimes more sever prisons....Siberia/The Arctic spring to mind. haha
But it saddens me that so many people will disrespect and burn their countries flag without having a healthy perspective of what their fellow countrymen go thru in trying to serve and protect the best way they know how, even if it is misguided at times. Sure we got good and bad soldiers, cops etc, but we should never blame all for evil of some. There is a reason the divorce rate is the highest amongst marriages that involve those who server in military or some form of police. The trauma and things they have to see, do and go thru, it can easily break your mind/heart. In the USA, 20-22 vets commit suicide every day, so these are serious issues.
We are a broken world filled with angry people and thats what we see and feel throughout history. And you especially see that anger in war and where those who are supposed to serve and protect you are the very ones who are hurting and abusing you. But like the movie illustrates, you can coward and blame others or you can do your best to fight for whats right, even when you feel the whole world is against you.
What is the answer to all that?
For me it's walking in my faith, and that was one of the most amazing theme's of Hacksaw Ridge. How no matter the obstacle, how serious, life and death the situation was, he relied on his faith and it got him threw it; even though sometimes it wasn't till the last second! He didn't blame others for the problems of the world, he just wanted to serve and save lives the best way he knew how.
He lead by example even though he took the beatings the world threw at him from his dad, his own military, to the Japanese, all who wanted to hurt him and even kill him. By leading by example, others wanted to now come up to his level instead of him coming down to theirs. You see this near the end of the movie in the most amazing way.
Spoiler alert...so don't read any further if you are going to go see it, but to see his fellow soldiers wait on going up the ridge for the next assault, because they saw the protection and blessing that God had on his life, they wanted his prayers because it was a miracle what he did the night before!
Before that day, they had assault after assault and failed miserably, with endless dead bodies and a demoralised people. After his prayers, well the American army finally took Hacksaw Ridge. It reminds so much of the old Testament and when God walked with Israel and they succeeded in their battles and when they didn't, their enemies won the battle.
James 5:16...... and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
One person can always make a difference, and one person walking with God can change the world!
By his faith, he walked the walk, loved and served and what happened......GOD SHOWED UP!
GO WATCH THE MOVIE, honour our vets and get some perspective on what God can do when you put your faith in His ways instead of mans ways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-1hz1juBI