Time Rolling Along

Morning devotional that I want to share with you all:

"A Watchful Eye:

The early American Indians had a unique practice in training their young braves.  On the night of their thirteenth birthday, after his fortitude and maturity had been tested by various trials in hunting, fishing, and scouting, he was placed in the center of a dense forest to spend the entire night alone.  It was an equivalent to his bar mitzvah or confirmation in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the sign of adulthood.  In a wood so thick that even the moonlight could not penetrate, he was left to the terrors of the darkness.  Every twig that snapped seemed like a wild animal ready to pounce.  Through the night he looked anxiously toward the east, awaiting the dawn.  After what seemed more like a month than a single night, the first ray of sunlight exposed the interior of the forest.  Slowly the young boy began to distinguish the bushes, the flowers, the path.  Then to his utter astonishment, he saw his father standing just a few feet away behind a tree, armed with a bow and arrow. 

     Don't you suppose the boy thought, 'If only I had known my father were there, I wouldn't have been afraid of anything'?  Hundreds of years earlier, Jesus had said to the sinking Peter and to the terrified disciples shipping water on the Lake Genesareth, 'Where is your faith?  Don't you know that my heavenly Father stands beside you night and day, armed not with a bow and arrow but with the love and power of His Spirit to ward off any danger?"    Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

I am sure you all get why I chose to share that one.  It just hit me right in the heart, in a good that is...

Things are going well here in the area of Iraq that I am in.  My platoon needed a break from the norm, so we had a horseshoe tournament one day as well as a Rook tournament.  SGT L and SGT H won the horse shoe tournament, and SGT H with a different partner (SPC B) won the Rook tourney.  It was a fun day.  We grilled out and put some cold drinks in the cooler.  It was our attempt at a cook out family type event at home, which we all miss so much. 

I went to another FOB for a few reasons which I can't post, but here are the pics from that trip, including one of the entrances to a large university in Iraq.  I took pics of the entrance about 7 months ago, and they have made some progress.  It appears to be slow progress, but progress nonetheless.  I heard most Iraqis only work 6 hours a day here, so maybe that is why progress is slow.  Unlike the US, people seemed to never be in too much of a hurry here. 

The other day I got a chance to just hang out with a couple guys in my platoon.  Two of us smoke cigars once in a while, so we bought some cubans from the local market.  Yes, they were real cubans, but dry they were.  I guess you can't have it all here in Iraq.  Well, far from it all and that is fine with me.  I would rather get fresh cigar or pipe tobacco in the states any day.  Please notice the lovely portajohn background in the picture of me.  There is no doubt they have a founding presence in my FOB. 

Also, Ramadan came on 4-5 October, and the past coalition force units have given a donation to the community.  So, we dug into our food closets and also gathered toys that had been shipped to us.  We passed them to our parent unit here, and these items were given out as a token of good presence.  I had one last shipment of beanie babies and toys that came in so that was the donation that my platoon made (really YOU ALL made the donation).  Thanks again for sending items.  I am sure more than a few children will not only have their day made, but also their week.  If you have more to send, please do not send them for I might not be here when they arrive and the package will be returned to you. 

Thanks again to all who support us in our mission here.  Freedom is more precious than ever. 

Comments

[Donna]

Great post! Stay safe and may God speed your return home. I am praying for you constantly - and all of your unit.

[David]

Thanks for your continued presence in Iraq. It is good to know that despite the bad press, horrible deaths, and regular infighting here in the US there are dedicated and amazing men and women there who are committed to the purpose of providing freedom and good will to the people of Iraq. I especially appreciate the ongoing efforts of your unit in maintaining good relationships with the people who work with you.
Peace,
David

[gavin]

ah, i love the taste of a good cigar alongside the smell of a port-o-john. man, i'm jealous! haha psyche

catch up with you in the coming months, love -bro

[Sandi Szym]

You have given me more information and encouragement than you'll ever know. My son is scheduled to return to the states the end of this month, after being there since January. With your excellent blog and God's hand on him, it has made it much easier for me. Thank you so much and God be with you and all your endeavors. God bless, Sandi

[Basilides]

Thanks for the encouraging post. I'll be linking to it at my blog for military Christians.

[mike]

great post man. i'm a little late in reading it, but what else is new. gav will have to share with u my birthday gift blunder. thanks for your sacrifice. as many shared their unworthyness in the bible, so do i share the same sentaments with those who have risked life for liberty.
GOD bless you and your fellow mates. i would love it if u were up to sharing any of your experiences with the youth when u get back to the states.

~ Mike

[Ike]

Where do you want me to send the ANT brother Shawn?
Tough loss (win) - great game. Hope you got to see it.

[nikki]

I am so glad you are on US soil and safe!!! Can't wait to talk to you. TIFFANY YOU MADE IT!
Love ya both!
Welcome Home

[wilsonkolb]

I wish you a safe return,...

[gavin]

thanks 'wilsonkolb' as brother to shawn i know that his blog is not about political ideologies or conspiracy theories. to shawn (and he expressed this to me many times) this space is about his journaling of an experience. an experience that he wished to share with his family and friends for their comfort & at times to give a glimpse into the life our soldiers.

with this understanding, i have 'clipped' your comment. it is not deleted, but not visible to the people who come here to hear from a love one. if shawn wishes to change this, he will be able to when he returns from active duty. we appreciate your support of our troops and concern for them, but if you wish to share a political viewpoint there are other blogs (even some on the military blogroll that you are welcome to share, heck, you can come over to my blog even).

God's Blessings and Peace to You & Your Family,
gavin

[wilsonkolb]

Censorship is cowardice, gavin. You're afraid of the truth. Most un-"christian" of you, in my book.

[gavin]

i appreciate your thoughts, whomever you are.

this is a journal as i've explained, not a public forum for reasons stated of yours or others "truth." if you cannot respect this space and what it is intended for then i am sorry. but i will continue to keep vigil to the spirit of this journal. if my brother wishes to change the direction of his journal he can, but that time is not now.

i figured that after my action & written response that you would be responding such as this, i wish you had respected our wishes. if you care to engage with me, i've offered, my space for conversation is readily available.

[Tahoma Activist]

Freedom is indeed precious. I hope you guys don't mind us lefties protesting for peace in the Middle East back here at home. For most of us, protest and political activism is the best way we have to promote and extend our first freedoms. By using our feet, our voices, and our words, we have the power to protect the First Amendment so that you all can continue to serve without being the passive victims of government propaganda.

Check out www.apctahoma.blogspot.com It's our local Tacoma-based blog to support The American Peoples Congress, but we hope that every community in America will want to set one up. If you're interested, check us out.

Peace!

[wilsonkolb]

Well, I'm going to take a middle ground here. I re-read through this blog and I can see your point about it being a "journal" not a political site. That said, I think it's also fair to say that in some of your postings you've portrayed the U.S. invasion and occupation in humanitarian terms, and as an exercise aimed at protecting "freedom."

You haven't flogged those themes terribly hard, so I'm not going to flog my opposition terribly hard either. I don't appreciate you having censored my earlier comment, but I'd also like to say that when I used the word "cowardice" I used it in a figurative sense.

Like many Americans here at home, I have mixed feelings about all of this. But there is one thing I have no mixed feelings about, and that's the wish that our people do no further harm and that they are able to return home safe and sound.

[gavin]

thank you wilsonkolb. i appreciate you respecting this space. in my eyes i haven't censored you, deleting you completely would have been that. i'm just holding vigil to the spirit of this space. i encourage us all to share in a prayer from Saint Francis as we all wish for peace in all of humanity.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

[cindy]

Thank God for allowing the safe travel to those who are back on American soil, and to those who are on the way, may they have a safe trip as well. I saw the first bus load come in this evening and it was heartwarming to see such a wonderful city wide turnout for those men.
My fiance' became friends with Shawn while in Iraq and he shared this site with me. He really spoke highly of Shawn and it was great know that he had people around him who were very strong in their faith. The site really helped me deal with the situation so much better.
And to those who do not agree with the war... please don't try to bring families who have soldiers risking their lives for you down. The soldiers and people of Iraq do believe in this, it is the media that doesn't. They are and DID make "Iraq and the USA" a better place for everyone even You. Don't invade the space of those trying to make it day by day and minute by minute with the unknown. I do not wish the last year of worry, anxiety, stress, and being alone on anyone. But, if you had to endure that then and maybe, just maybe you would understand what they are fighting for. YOU!!!

[wilsonkolb]

cindy, in my opinion they are not fighting for me. gavin, if you want to delete this I would certainly understand, but I also hope you'll be evenhanded and trim the politics out of cindy's message. Fair's fair.

[Jonathon Norman]

wilson,
i'm not sure why someone who is for nonviolence shows up at someone's blog and writes with the intent to engage in idealogical discussion in the manner that you are doing.

you say, "But there is one thing I have no mixed feelings about, and that's the wish that our people do no further harm..."

don't you think that you are possibly doing harm to this man's blog, which is not a political or idealogical forum but his public journal of his experiences to share with those interested?

i invite you to continue the discussion if you like, but not on shawn's site, please feel free to continue the discussion at my blog or email me: [email protected]

shalom
jonathon

[wilsonkolb]

jonathon,

A couple of things. First, I have never written that I am "for nonviolence." Secondly, a blog is a public document so there's nothing inappropriate about my "showing up."

As for the rest, if you and/or gavin reads my prior comment carefully and in the way I intended to be read, I make a very narrow point: Be even-handed with respect to political statements here. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Bart]

Shawn and Tiffany,

I am so happy for you guys. Y'all have stayed in my thoughts and prayers throughout this deployment. Shawn, thank you for your service to our country. There is no way I can thank you enough for the sacrifice you made of your career and marriage by going to Iraq. TD, you rock but you don't need me to tell you that. Have fun enjoying your time back together. You're two of my favorites.

Best wishes,

Bart

p.s. For anyone who wants to make this blog a soapbox, get a life. I assure you my politics aren't consistent with most of our nation's foreign policy but that's not what this space is for. This space is for Shawn and Tiffany and their loved ones during this tough time. Whatever you feel about our involvement in Iraq, be glad we have soldiers with Shawn's integrity to show others what Americans can be at their best and spouses like Tiffany that keep them going from the home front. If you don't get that, I don't care if we do view the situation in Iraq similarly, you're an idiot and I'd appreciate you getting lost. Peace!

[Joel Thomas]

Jonathon,

I agree with you to an extent, except that Shawn hasn't placed a disclaimer that dissenting opinions aren't welcome. It might be better if he included a box that provides that this is a personal journal of his experience in Iraq and not a political forum or place for dissenting views. Most people properly assume, unless specifically warned otherwise, that comments are "open."

Since I already understand such from reading Gavin's blog, then I just read Shawn's blog for appreciating the sharing of day-to-day life in Iraq and of the story of one person standing up for what he believes in and the opportunity to keep Shawn and other military personnel in my prayers. Thus, I don't comment on foreign, military or political policies here.

[wilsonkolb]

Blogs ARE "soapboxes." Jonothon and Bart and cindy are mad that I'm not a wingnut who just gives the ol' stiff-armed salute on cue. Now, gavin made a good point about the purpose of his blog and ever since then I've quit posting an "ideological" point of view (in contrast to what, the "non-ideological" wingnuttery from some others here?).

Since gavin and I had our little go-'round, my point has been simple and non-ideological: If the comments section is to be non-partisan, I'm absolutely willing to go along with it if others will. Apparently, the wingnuts don't want to do that.

[Rightfielder]

Welcome home Soldier.
If you want a forum to express your views and experiences after you shut down stop by my site...
http://rightfielder.blogspot.com
and email me.
I have Marines, Soldiers, and Coasties write paragraphs and co-author articles.
God bless you, and God Bless America!

[SUPARAT SANGPIROM]

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[Joshua from Israeli Uncensored News]

This is a lovely post!! Thank you for this brilliant sharing! Keep it up!

This is Joshua from Israeli Uncensored News