My God of the Battlefields

 1 Samuel 17:47

New International Version (NIV)

47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

I watched the World War II movie, "The Longest Day," yesterday and was inspired by Henry Fonda's portrayal of General Theodore Roosevelt Jr.  He was the only general on D-Day to land by sea with the troops and at 56 the oldest man in the Invasion.  Landing on Utah beach, he learned they were a mile off course.  After making a reconnaissance of the beach, cane and pistol in hand, he famously declared, "We'll start the war from right here!"  Suffering from arthritis and heart problems, he would die a little more than a month later in France and was posthumously awarded The Medal of Honor.  The citation read:

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in France. After 2 verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt's written request for this mission was approved and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strong points and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France.

It impressed me so much that a man with arthritis could be so brave that I set out to conquer a walk that night that I really shouldn't have tried to conquer.  So today, I hurt, my battlefield being ill chosen.  I need to start the war from where I am, not necessarily where I want to be.  Still, I want to be a good soldier for my Lord, the best soldier with rheumatoid arthritis I can be.  The battle is the Lord's, after all.

"The Battlefield" - Isaacs

General Roosevelt