LONELY SOLDIER
Marshall Singletary
He was a soldier of the ranks. He was a long way from home, and homesickness was his constant companion. The evenings and the quietness of standing guard were the loneliest times.

The memories that played across his consciousness sometimes comforted him but could also brim his eyes with tears. He would hurriedly wipe them away for fear of ridicule from his companions. However, there were days when he did not think at all. He only reacted. For brief periods he could retreat into emotional numbness. Feel nothing. Think nothing. If you get home, you get home. If you don't . . . then you don't.

He shook himself to bring his mind and body to a fully alert status. This was no environment to drift away in your thoughts. He adjusted his weapon and carefully watched the local population going through their daily routines. There was nothing familiar about these foreign people, forgetting for the moment that he was the foreigner. Their language, clothing, customs, religion, food ("How could they eat that!") were all different. Sometimes he hated them.

There were religious zealots among them. He knew they hated him as well. Though mild of manner by nature, he knew he could take another life if necessary.

"Peace," he muttered to himself. "It's an illusion. All we have ever done on earth is destroy one another. There must be a better way than this. What if it were possible for us to love one another as though we were brothers and sisters? That would turn the world upside down!

"Maybe there would be no more lonely soldiers." He decided those thoughts were too deep for a simple soldier of the ranks. "I wonder what Mama's doing right now?"

Where is our soldier? Almost any answer you give will be correct. Iraq or Afghanistan? Saudi or Vietnam? Korea or Nazi occupied territory? Just take your pick! It could be any of them.

On this day after Christmas, let's place him in Bethlehem of Judea. Strange how little has changed. The Prince of Peace walked among us, and we killed Him. During the Crusades, His church sent children into war. From the Old Testament until now, his people continually drift toward backsliding.

However, in each generation, a few have caught on. Changed from the inside out, they find they can love even their enemies. Perhaps they don't love perfectly, but they love with a quality that shows change is possible. Led by the Prince of Peace and armed with the whole armor of God, they continually gain a few more feet of ground for The Peaceable Kingdom. They often feel as though they are aliens in a strange land. Among them, too, you will find some lonely soldiers Babe of Bethlehem, hurry back.