Faith and Free Will

     This morning I bumped into our Sky Pilot and as he warmly greeted me he mentioned that today was Palm Sunday. The news came as a surprise – I didn’t even know that it was Sunday morning. Back home in the “real” world there is an orderly progression of days, each a distinct entity separated from the others by both habit and ritual. The primacy of days is so deeply enmeshed in the ebb and flow of American society it operates like an immutable law of nature. But here in Iraq knowing the day of the week divines nothing, for every day is the same. There are no weekends to look forward to, and no evenings that don’t threaten to stretch until they’ve hybridized separate days. There is just the date – a dry numerical reference to the steady passage of time’s arrow.

     The long hours I spent the night prior had put me slightly ahead of my taskings, so I seized the opportunity to attend church services. I walked over to our chapel, a drab concrete building whose defining characteristic is an odd architectural feature that resembles a missile ready to puncture the sky, and entered its single room. As I took my seat I looked around and noticed that in addition to my Army brethren there were Marines, Bangladeshi contractors, Eastern European truck drivers, and several Iraqi interpreters all silently gathered in this small outpost of faith. Our admixture of origins and backgrounds made no difference, for the rest of the mass we were one in faith. There in that small chapel a few hundred miles removed from the ancient cities of the gospel I truly understood the sanctifying power of belief.

     The closing hymn was one I remember from my years as an alter boy, but its meaning seemed to have taken on greater gravity in the ensuing years. My voice is ill suited for carrying a tune, but I managed to sing one of the verses - “If you stand before the power of hell, and death is at your side, know that I am with you through it all”. The words were a spiritual salve, and I left the chapel a stronger man then when I entered.

     As I walked back to the TOC my thoughts wandered to the jihadist insurgents and the differences between my beliefs and their own. The answer was simple, it wasn’t faith that separated us but our concept of the value of free will. I grew up believing that faith was a deeply personal decision that helped guide individual actions, not as the basis for a system of government. The jihadists believe the opposite – that their version of faith is compulsory and should shape every aspect of the government. As the Iraqi people continue to shape their destiny they will forge a democracy that will be both familiar and strange to our eyes. But as long as it embraces free will – the jihadists are destined to fail.

Comments

[Malaga]

Thank you very much for the info I was looking for, and Greetings from Malaga-Spain Antonio

[Andy]

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." - Habbakkuk 3:17-18 Love your writing style, very poetic, very thoughtful. Maybe some day I'll meet you on earth, but if not, I owe you a beer, uhm, I mean ambrosia in heaven. :) heh.

[Todd Grimson]

Good post. I wonder how far you are from the ancient city of Ur. I know that some of the cities from history have changed their names but (as with Nineveh) it's commonly known what the original name was. I've read a lot about the region, unconnected from the war (or Gulf I). Archaeology and Sumerian history as derived from cunieform. I used to have very vivid, technicolor dreams about Ur... in which it used to seem that the Assyrians were at the gate.

[Angel]

T6, As always, a very insightful, thought provoking missive. It’s defiantly worth the read when you put hand to keyboard. Your soldiers are obviously quite lucky to have all of you behind them (and in front!!!!). Many may have answered that young mans questions, but few would share so much of themselves in the attempt to not just clarify, but to enlighten. Nothing profound to add, just keep your chin up and your head and backsides down!!!! All the best, Angel

[Chevy Rose]

Isn't it amazing that 2,005 years later that guy's Words can still move mountains, and melt the hardest of hearts? Happy Easter and God bless America's soldiers.

[Tony]

Outstanding post. Thanks for a site with excellent content and an eye on the bigger picture. This is much better than the blogs that focus only on how much it sucks to be away from home and loved ones. Thank you for your service. Those of us in uniform pushing paper around the Puzzle Palace owe you a great debt. Tony

[Brian H]

Fine words and an important thought. But, don't be too complacent about the support for Free Will back home. There are quite a few, maybe most, parents who would be/are seriously distressed -- or worse -- if a child exercises free will and "switches" faiths. Actually, world-wide most believers in any faith or sect seem to believe they just got lucky and were born into the ONE that has the right answers. Or maybe that they are somehow specially deserving and got that special placement. There's a whole similar thing happens with nationality, but I won't open that can.

[Huntress]

What an evocative post...It moved me deeply. "Be Not Afraid" is a favorite of mine. I'm reminded of this emotionally powerful song from "Hairspray" which is a source of inspiration for me..it seems to fit the circumstances..the times...it could be a theme for the Iraqi's and our deployed troups, and for what is going on in a post election Iraq. "There's a road We've been travelin' Lost so many on the way But the riches Will be plenty Worth the price we Had to pay There's a dream In the future There's a struggle We have yet to win And there's pride In my heart 'Cause i know Where i'm going And the Lord knows where I've been" Stay Safe, T6

[Robin in Ohio]

(Oops. Let me rephrase the last sentence of my previous post. I will keep you, Major K, and 2LT Rufus in my thoughts and prayers.) Robin in Ohio

[Robin in Ohio]

"You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst. You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way. You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand. You shall see the face of God and live. Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow me, and I will give you rest." Blessings to you on this beginning of Holy Week. I will keep you, Thunder6 and 2LTRufus in my thoughts and prayers. Robin in Ohio

[tmg]

Be not afraid - I go before you always - come follow me - and I will give you rest.