They gave him the word
But his mind had already heard
He called his friend
“I can’t say much but this might be the end”
He enlisted for a bonus
But what became his onus
Was to fight as commanded
So he prayed the words his Lord chanted
“Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.”
And as he said it
He wondered about evil
And turning the other cheek
And forgiveness of other people
What temptation remained for him?
He thought about honor and duty
Could something lure him to the darkness
When towards darkness was already his journey?
Where is the light on this earth
Is God’s will that he must die for his country?
What lesson will he learn for this sacrifice?
When so many have broken our unity?
Is evil always deserving of death?
The Lord said from above
“Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends
Is his call to arms truly an act of love?
He had to believe what he was told
He could not question a higher rank
He suddenly realized how real life had become
While his friends laughed as they drank
It was a purpose to give your life to your country
This is what he believed in his heart
He saluted the flag and watched jets fly by
But now, what was real was about to start
Can a soldier carry a cross into battle?
Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its place.
For all who take the sword will perish by the sword”
Will battlefield glory take away his grace?
He wondered if God really needed a Christian soldier
His existence is not proven by the point of a sword
He would move in his column as the order has been given
All he could hope for was that grace is the trusted word
They say there are no atheists in a fox hole
But like me a nonbeliever can be a hero or a coward
I have new brothers now and we fight for each other
For them I shall live or die when we march forward