A Fine Morning
Journal 2006 09 26
A Fine Morning
“a fine morning we commenced wrighting &c” And with that simple entry the written record of William Clark and the Corps of Discovery is complete.
What makes a morning fine? Is it the weather? Is it the night before? Is it the expectations for the day ahead? Is it in the anticipation of the future? As I write this at 11:05AM on September 28, 2006 in Everett, WA it is a fine morning by my definition. Beautifully blue clear skies, temperatures climbing their way into the low seventies and a slight breeze with a hint of fall nipping at my ears. The only thing that would make it more fine is to be in an alpine meadow on the shoulder of Mt. Rainier or some peak in the Rockies rifle in hand.
My favorite illustration that defines a fine day comes from a more contemporary soldier. Sergeant Major Basil Plumley served Colonel Hal Moore as he formed the US Army’s first Air Cavalry unit. He later led that unit into the first major US battle in Vietnam chronicled in the fantastic book, “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young.” In the movie the gruff, gray haired Plumley, played by gravely voiced Sam Elliot, challenges young Sgt. Ernie Savage regarding what constitutes a fine day.
The question is not answered until after the epic battle where Savage and his platoon is separated from the main force. Savage must assume command after the lieutenant is killed. Savage proves his worth in battle and in this, his weakest moment, covered with the filth of blood, flesh and dirt, that Plumley tells him, “Sgt. Savage, that is a fine day!” You could think about that response all your life.
Plumley was a paratrooper in WWII. He made every jump in Europe and fought in every war after. He was a man acquainted with battle. He was known for standing tall when others took cover in combat and for arming himself with an Army issue Colt 1911 .45 ACP pistol because he knew war was always close and always personal. He had seen enough of the indescribable events of war to know that his fate was no longer in his hands. Someone else must be responsible for the day and time of his death. So he lived as if he could not die.
“…I have been put to death with Christ on his cross, so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.” Paul the Apostle (Galatians 2:19-20 GNB)
I pray for each of us that we come to learn what a fine day is. Who holds your fate in His hands?
Proceed on.
A Fine Morning
“a fine morning we commenced wrighting &c” And with that simple entry the written record of William Clark and the Corps of Discovery is complete.
What makes a morning fine? Is it the weather? Is it the night before? Is it the expectations for the day ahead? Is it in the anticipation of the future? As I write this at 11:05AM on September 28, 2006 in Everett, WA it is a fine morning by my definition. Beautifully blue clear skies, temperatures climbing their way into the low seventies and a slight breeze with a hint of fall nipping at my ears. The only thing that would make it more fine is to be in an alpine meadow on the shoulder of Mt. Rainier or some peak in the Rockies rifle in hand.
My favorite illustration that defines a fine day comes from a more contemporary soldier. Sergeant Major Basil Plumley served Colonel Hal Moore as he formed the US Army’s first Air Cavalry unit. He later led that unit into the first major US battle in Vietnam chronicled in the fantastic book, “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young.” In the movie the gruff, gray haired Plumley, played by gravely voiced Sam Elliot, challenges young Sgt. Ernie Savage regarding what constitutes a fine day.
The question is not answered until after the epic battle where Savage and his platoon is separated from the main force. Savage must assume command after the lieutenant is killed. Savage proves his worth in battle and in this, his weakest moment, covered with the filth of blood, flesh and dirt, that Plumley tells him, “Sgt. Savage, that is a fine day!” You could think about that response all your life.
Plumley was a paratrooper in WWII. He made every jump in Europe and fought in every war after. He was a man acquainted with battle. He was known for standing tall when others took cover in combat and for arming himself with an Army issue Colt 1911 .45 ACP pistol because he knew war was always close and always personal. He had seen enough of the indescribable events of war to know that his fate was no longer in his hands. Someone else must be responsible for the day and time of his death. So he lived as if he could not die.
“…I have been put to death with Christ on his cross, so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.” Paul the Apostle (Galatians 2:19-20 GNB)
I pray for each of us that we come to learn what a fine day is. Who holds your fate in His hands?
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 2:29 PM
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