Band of Brothers
Journal 2005 02 03
Band of Brothers
Desperate? I can’t tell from the words recorded in the journal entries. But growing shortages of food and no game to be found sends the men into bold action.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the men of the Corps of Discovery were much like the men of the 101st Airborne in WWII. Difficult situations? Maybe. Desperate? Never. The men of the 101st Airborne are those we’ve come to know as the Band of Brothers. They parachuted into Normandy, fought their way across France, and were later surrounded and cut-off by the Germans in a last, truly desperate, attempt to fight off Allied forces on the verge of penetrating Germany. During that cold Christmas season Patton’s Third Army raced to rescue these tough, battle-hardened soldiers in what was to become known as the Battle of the Bulge. When rescued the men were down to their last rounds of ammunition and short on food. They, however, did not see their situation as desperate and were surprised at the concern for their welfare. Appreciative of the ammo and other supplies certainly. Desperate? Not in their own eyes.
Faced with the same battle of cold weather and shrinking supplies the men of the Lewis and Clark expedition did what decisive military leaders have done throughout history. They took bold action to achieve victory. This victory would be over hunger.
Clark took virtually half of the men (16) on a hunting trip down the frozen Missouri River as far as was necessary to obtain meat for the Fort. The men had the mindset that nothing could defeat them and they would succeed no matter the circumstances. I can’t recall actually reading such a bold statement. I’ve also never read any statement of worry and possible failure from the journals of the men of the Corps of Discovery. We read only descriptions of their circumstances and their perseverance to overcome any obstacles. Including the previously unknown Rocky Mountains!
Historians have noted throughout the past two hundred years the apparent lack of griping, complaining, negative speech and bad attitudes we might expect from such a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The records all indicate that a genuine “joy” accompanied the Corps of Discovery on their mission to conquer the unknown land between the Missouri River and Pacific Ocean.
This unbridled joy is what we should take from their example this morning. What difficulties are we facing that others may describe as “desperate”? Are we approaching them with confidence and joy or worry and despair? Are we viewing our march through time as a God-directed mission filled with adventure as we face the unknown and seemingly impossible course ahead? Are we filled with strength to complete the mission because we have found and been filled with the Joy of the Holy Ghost? Do we have an enduring faith that what God has started He will be faithful to complete in us?
If a small band of expeditionaries could face their ever-changing circumstances without complaint and undue fear two hundred years ago in the unmapped wilderness we ought to be able to trust us to the Holy Spirit to lead us through any unknown, dangerous lands to rescue those imprisoned by sin and death. And we can do it if we have strength that comes from Joy in the Holy Ghost.
That strength is a likened to a fortress in Scripture. Pastor Norm spoke of Nehemiah 8:9-10 last Sunday and the “Joy of the Lord is your strength” tells us that the Joy of the Lord is the place we need to find to find strength and life.
May we all find Joy in the Holy Ghost this very day.
Band of Brothers
Desperate? I can’t tell from the words recorded in the journal entries. But growing shortages of food and no game to be found sends the men into bold action.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the men of the Corps of Discovery were much like the men of the 101st Airborne in WWII. Difficult situations? Maybe. Desperate? Never. The men of the 101st Airborne are those we’ve come to know as the Band of Brothers. They parachuted into Normandy, fought their way across France, and were later surrounded and cut-off by the Germans in a last, truly desperate, attempt to fight off Allied forces on the verge of penetrating Germany. During that cold Christmas season Patton’s Third Army raced to rescue these tough, battle-hardened soldiers in what was to become known as the Battle of the Bulge. When rescued the men were down to their last rounds of ammunition and short on food. They, however, did not see their situation as desperate and were surprised at the concern for their welfare. Appreciative of the ammo and other supplies certainly. Desperate? Not in their own eyes.
Faced with the same battle of cold weather and shrinking supplies the men of the Lewis and Clark expedition did what decisive military leaders have done throughout history. They took bold action to achieve victory. This victory would be over hunger.
Clark took virtually half of the men (16) on a hunting trip down the frozen Missouri River as far as was necessary to obtain meat for the Fort. The men had the mindset that nothing could defeat them and they would succeed no matter the circumstances. I can’t recall actually reading such a bold statement. I’ve also never read any statement of worry and possible failure from the journals of the men of the Corps of Discovery. We read only descriptions of their circumstances and their perseverance to overcome any obstacles. Including the previously unknown Rocky Mountains!
Historians have noted throughout the past two hundred years the apparent lack of griping, complaining, negative speech and bad attitudes we might expect from such a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The records all indicate that a genuine “joy” accompanied the Corps of Discovery on their mission to conquer the unknown land between the Missouri River and Pacific Ocean.
This unbridled joy is what we should take from their example this morning. What difficulties are we facing that others may describe as “desperate”? Are we approaching them with confidence and joy or worry and despair? Are we viewing our march through time as a God-directed mission filled with adventure as we face the unknown and seemingly impossible course ahead? Are we filled with strength to complete the mission because we have found and been filled with the Joy of the Holy Ghost? Do we have an enduring faith that what God has started He will be faithful to complete in us?
If a small band of expeditionaries could face their ever-changing circumstances without complaint and undue fear two hundred years ago in the unmapped wilderness we ought to be able to trust us to the Holy Spirit to lead us through any unknown, dangerous lands to rescue those imprisoned by sin and death. And we can do it if we have strength that comes from Joy in the Holy Ghost.
That strength is a likened to a fortress in Scripture. Pastor Norm spoke of Nehemiah 8:9-10 last Sunday and the “Joy of the Lord is your strength” tells us that the Joy of the Lord is the place we need to find to find strength and life.
May we all find Joy in the Holy Ghost this very day.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 4:29 PM
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