Isn’t it grand? How the sweet wind blows, and the mighty trees bow. Isn’t it so grand? Every blade of grass kissing naked feet. And each ray of light warming all with a mighty smile. Isn’t it grand? The way the water glistens with movement, and how silence can be the best of all sounds.
     Isn’t it grand? All the children bare foot and naked, and all the millions wishing for food. Isn’t it grand? No more can one sleep at night, and no more can one be alive without glaring at death all the while. Isn’t it grand? So many are cast away for having nothing, and so many forgotten for their nothingness.
     Isn’t it grand? How the sun who kisses my face drys all too many to a shriveled death. And how the gleaming water before me cannot be found closer than seven miles. Isn’t it grand? When the wind brings me sweet comfort, it yet carries pain in all of the four winds. Isn’t it grand? How as silence strikes, and I have the chance to listen, all that is to be heard is gunfire and war.

For those who do not see it, I have a meaning behind this.
     While sitting outside enjoying the amazing weather I began to write the first paragraph. Having trouble nearing the fifth sentence, I started thinking. “How is this so hard? I have serious inspiration busting from the seems out here? Why can’t I write?”
This was when I remembered a guest speaker that had visited that morning. He was from Afghanistan and was speaking about his country and culture and experiences. As I began wondering more and more about what I had learned I began to fit so much together.
     All over the world so many people suffer in so many different ways. I had already started a poem, and now, at long last, I actually had one to write. Something that I forgot to think about was that when I write, it isn’t about what I want to write about. I can never write about how excellent my life is when I know that so many have such trials. My issues seem microscopic in comparison.
     So I ask you this, Isn’t it grand? How as you drive with a group of friends to some party you have such a good time. And I ask you this too, Isn’t it grand? How there is a child just like you who doesn’t even have shoes, that all his friends have been killed by war, and the only car they’ve been in is one he took shelter inside during a bomb raid.

 Isn’t it Grand?
Or is it?

     Gleaming through the darkness I come to a place I know far too well. For years it had been my home, and for years it had been my prison. I have come back to it, war-torn and tired, I keep my march steady as I pass onto its wicked grounds. A shadowy land, of which I have not forgotten, beckons me to once again rot within it. With darkness at every corner, and danger around every bend, I find myself upon my newest and oldest battlefield. I have been reassigned to the Eastern Front.

     Shinning blindingly I knock on the great rusted gates. Their twisted metal and deadly barbs are nothing when face to face with Holy might and incorruptible determination. When charging towards defined and definite death there is no space for even the slightest doubts. Though a firm rock may be cracked and chipped under me, it is still a firm rock.

     Nothing held back and nothing left resting. As the moment of departure comes and I am to storm the gates, only one thought exists,
“I must fight in such a war as this. Our war against the Darkness is more ruthless than ever before. Blood of both sides is shed, yet never shall we rest until the days are bright, and the nights even brighter.”

     Come now, all near and far. Soldiers on every front hear my call. Before us lays the gates of Dark tyranny. Behind them the despair and pain is matched only by the suffering cries of pain from those imprisoned within. So now, one and all, draw your swords and dawn your shields with me. Stand sturdy and proudly, for though our blood will be shed we shall not stop, not until those prisoned have finally stopped shedding theirs.

     Rise up now brothers, rise up and dive in. With unity let us charge into the Darkened battle ground. With hands lifted high, we cannot lose. With transparent hearts, we cannot lose. With strength and courage never-ending, we cannot lose. With swords so steadfast and shields so strong, we cannot lose. With Light to guild us, we cannot lose.

     So let us all now be side by side. Brothers in Faith look to each other, though some of us may fall others will pick us up back to our feet. Search my eyes as I search yours. It is our time, and this our place. No more shall we stand gazing from our strongholds, no more will we lay in wait within our safe palaces.

So let us all now rise up.
Let us all fight against the Darkness.
And let us all Rise up to fight in this Dark War.

     I have seen truth and I have felt light. I have heard grace and I have known love. All of the world has seen the change in me, and fought to has fought to have me back. How can I be so neglectful to myself and all thoughts who surround me? My senses were taken from me, all that they had known was torn away. Now That I have them back, I must relearn all that I once knew. When I forgot the love, grace, light and truth they were replaced with wicked spores of evil…

     Far away in a dark room, I lay bare and cold. Though I glow with a dim light, all that is around me is left dark. Stumbling around I search, so much lays in the way. Something ahead, but what could this be? Staggering toward a foreign glow I trudge toward what I see. Finally it becomes clear to me, I know what it is. A mirror great in size has been mounted before me. Looking close I see my glow, yet it lays dim before me. All the dark around me has been coming, it still closes in. As I grow afraid, I too dim to match the darkness.

     But how can this be? What has happened? What is this before me, it cannot be I? Why do I not shine? Why do I not light this entire roon? Falling on my knees, I continue this ramble. The longer that I focus on my own darkness the darker I become. With only but an embers light, I see what else lies in the room. Dead yet breathing bodies pile atop each other. The floor is more than covered, I must swim through them all. Tripping over the suffering mess I fall, only to come face to face with one of the numbers of tortured. Infinitely sweet and genital the face before me glares back to mine with such broken eyes. Enraged I fight all who are not there. Cursing all the world and below for causing such pain to so many. Though I see none living around me I make an oath allowed:

     “From this breath forth I swear to all; I have seen, and I have felt, all the suffering of the world. I shall never rest, I shall never falter, and I shall never stop. I am a Soldier of God, and from this breath forth I wage war on all evil of Hell and of all spawn of Satin.” I am a man of my word.

     With none to hold me back I rise up with the broken child. Glaring into the eyes of the dying only brings more anger to me. Finally all is dark. Creatures come from all sides, they have come to hold me to my oath. Monsters and creatures without names begin the raid, they have come for me. I still am living in their breeding ground of death. As all grows worse I know what lays before me, and it is not an easy path. Letting go of the broken, I stand. Now the battle begins, now that I am unarmed an blind they begin their slaughter. Ripping away I once again begin my ranting, How can this be happening to me?

     At this very moment I see the truth. How can I give so much care to myself while all these in the room have been suffering for longer than I could ever know. Not only am I being attacked by these beasts but they are also being slain. The only difference between they and I is I can fight back. And now I will fight back, not for me but for the countless others who are in the middle of this furry. Rising to my feet the creatures sense a change in their domain and all turn attention to me.
“You have come to take that which is not yours to have. These people will are slaves to your fangs no more. Begone now, for I shall no longer let this be. Come to me now, I challenge you to test my word, I challenge you all to test my oath.”

     As they all charge to put me in my place a blinding light fills the room. The intecity and power of the light has no bounds. With a single flash all beasts and monsters, creatures and darkness alike are abliterated. Now the bodies which line the room sleep soundly, still bleeding from their wounds. I turn to see where the light comes from, yet there is nothing around. Advancing to the great mirror again, I hear a splenderous voice calling my name.
“Soldier of mine, I am pleased by you. Though you, as all others, have stumbled you have risen up. Look around you, do you see all the count less that lay? Go to them, each and every one. Wake them from their rest and bring them to a life of light. And open your eyes, for before you thought you were alone, but now see and know that one of the many around you awoke you. Go now, and do my bidding, for this task is yours and I have intrusted it to you. Love all and be loved, save all and be saved.”

     For many day’s I’ve lived along side the wolf. After fighting the packs I had been bested, and along with the torment and suffering I was blinded. Not being able to see what was around me, ahead of me, or even behind me. Past, Present, and Future had become intertwined; with all the chaos I had forgotten.

     Slowly and yet too quickly I became transformed. I can never again be a wolf for I was reborn as a sheepdog of protection and as a being pledged to guardianship. Rabid and manged stocking all those I was sworn to take care of. Still fighting wolves and now hunting as they do. It is always the hardest in paradise… Drifting silently and slowly I’ve followed the faint sent of hazed memories. Stumbling and trudging in pain I’ve found my way. Many surround me and embrace the beast which stands before them, knowing only and extent of what I’ve done, and what I’ve become. Yet they all love.

     Being in the wolves jaws for so long has caused me to be led to his ways. But now I can see, and now I know. The deceit and trickery of the wolf can never overcome the strength and might of the blessed sheep dog. Though I have done the most wrong, I am still one of the most blessed. The darkened shadows flee in fear of my rediscovered Holy Light which guilds me and gives me more strength than I could ever contain. With vision anew I see more than ever, to have lived with the suffering and done nothing has given me a new fire. I can see the sheep, and I can see the wolves. Never again will so much will be neglected while it lays in my sight. By failing to save the sheep from the wolves jaws gives me only new inspiration.

      I see the harmed sheep around me, and the wolves that taunt and torture them. So much is to be done. I know what I had done to make me so rabid. It is solitude, without the Shepard the sheepdog can fight for only so long. The sheepdogs work is to fight the wolf so that the barbaric creature flees from the precious flock. Only the Shepard can truely beat the wolf, and only the Shepard can give his faithfull dogs strength to fight. With the Shepard by my side I will fight the wolves, and I will free the sheep.

      Unfortunate event’s have recently unfolded before me causing a chain reaction of disaster to fall upon the wake of this hideous discovery. (If you cannot tell by this first sentence, I have quite strong and very negative thoughts of this subject.) Before I reveal the identity of the vigilantly behind these horrendous actions I have something to say. At this moment I am at the end of a journey, one that I wish I had never embarked on. The presence of the Evil One and the lack of Holly Light around me has caused my life to completely change. For all of you who read this, you are more than likely stronger than I. I am a weak disappointment, I am ashamed to look at my own reflection. What I thought and stood upon so steadily before embarking on this quest has been repetitively broken down, changed, and reformed. It is a sad day when your strongest beliefs are strangers…

      When you look at me, what did you see. Can you remember what you saw in me? Can you still hear the words my eye’s would whisper to you? It has been some time since your eyes gazed in mine, is it what it was before. I look in the dark water, and a demon glares back to me. Snarling it leaps from the calm and attacks me. The only thing that I recognize in this thing is it’s eyes. For we share the same darkness within, a darkness that has not been present in my eyes for a long time. For two month’s I have been out numbered seven thousand to one, and I have been bested. Bused and bloodied, beaten and bested. I am but a limp heap of what I once has been. These thugs from Hell have drilled into my mind, these thugs from Hell have taken control of my mind. I am sprinting down a path of destruction, blindly running away. They are herding me like cattle, to a fiery slaughter.

      If you are to look deep inside of yourself, as I am doing to myself. Deep deep down where the core of your being is, you will find your soul. In this protected place Holy Light is the Law, and all criminal’s are banished away. When Holy Light reigns strong all is peaceful, and the soul is filled with love and joy. But the criminal’s wish to gain control of the soul. The demon’s, or criminal’s, do everything that they can to dig there dark claws into the love of the soul and capture it for there own. I tell you this because my soul is in the claw’s of a dark demon. One which is leading the others, a demon of my past. I know nothing of it’s origin, nor of it’s evils in my early life, but I recognize it well of recent years. This is the demon of which I saw in the dark waters. While all the others hold me down, it has been mutilating my core, changing my very foundation into what it was when he was in control. Struggle as I may, and though I fight with all that is within me, it is not enough. The constant fighting has outlasted my own stamina, and I am at a deadly impasse, one which seems imposable to escape.

     I can see in the distance, bright wing’s streaming to me. At the sight of my possible escape all of the demons have become enraged and have begun a rabid outburst of anger and fury. Now that there is a chance of my survival, I am being torn apart violently and without mercy. Barely living I have found it to be true, that it really is darkest before the dawn. But what does the new day bring? When the bright wings come to carry me away from this evil place, will I still be able to leave or will it be to late to save me? Please do not miss interpret my words for confusion in this matter is of no use. I am fighting still, and I never have stopped. I have trudged on to the end of the battle field and back, and never stopped. What I me to say to you is that it has been so long, and my campaign so destructive, that I have grown weak and tired beyond recovery while still on this dark and evil battle field. And yet I still fight, and still die.

     I can see the wings approaching, my tour of battle is finally coming to a close, my campaign of torture and death will finally be left behind. I will be returning to a place of healing, and a place of hope. Though even when the bright wings lower me down I will still need to fight, I will not be alone. Long has it been since there was the shoulder of a fellow soldier to lean on, and I may not recognize its purpose. Comrades please listen, for my voice may not be able to tell this twice. Please be prepared, for I need you more than ever. I have been beaten so badly, and tortured so constantly, that I can no longer recognise my own soul or my own core anymore. I come to you broken and bleeding, and this is what I beg of you. Take me to the infirmary and stitch me up. Bring me to the place of healing and let me be healed. Too long has it been since I opened my eyes and saw Holy Light. Too long has it been since I saw a reflection of myself. When I return, I do not expect you to recognize me. When one is tortured for so long they become a mutinous creature, not man, not animal, yet both. Please take pity on me. Bring me to a place of healing, I am tasting death as I speak these final words. Don’t let the demons take me. Don’t let this evil of the past rule unchallenged. You know who I was when I left, do not let me die out here. Please save me… Please save me dear brother’s…

Arise! Arise! Our day has come!

     From this moment forth we are no longer just men, but soldiers! And on this day we come forth and ride head first into glorious battle! Before this moment you were all just mear children, but now a new worrier has been placed in that child’s stead. Come my mighty soldiers, for our time is now! We must make a great plunge into what great battle lies before us! The road is dark and many will be wounded, but the prize is great. Do you not want to see salvation on the land that was given to us? This world was made for us all and it is high time that we choose to take it! Come now great soldier, and fight with me, we have traveled so far and the time is now for us to strike! Wait no longer, for we must make posthaste, the sooner we begin our trails to great victory the sooner that she will be ours! We cannot afford to wait any longer to reap this great bounty!
     So my dear brothers let us rise up! The revolution has begun, and we are still waiting! When the trumpet first sounds let us rush into battle! Alone we never accomplished anything, but together we are strong and nothing can hold us back! Rapid and violent we shall be for no evil will withstand our might! Be ready always, for even now our adversaries plague the land shedding blood mercilessly. We mustn’t let their reign of tyranny hold for any longer! Rise up my brothers! Rise up and greet the revolution with the clash of your swords and the sounds of your hearts!
     Be quiet now, for there is something in the distance… I hear a noise… But what could it be?… Alas, Greatness comes, it is growing louder… Can you not hear it?… I know it now!… I hear it so clear! It is the sound of the trumpet! Great and mighty, holy and just, our trumpet sounds with the call to our lives! Our mission begins lads! Let us not waste a breath more! You hear it too, the sound of oncoming victory! Remember this moment for all of your days! This is the moment when you understand what you are to do! We are at war gentlemen, and we mustn’t leave a heart beat behind! Rise up with all that is in you! For a great and glorious day is hear! You know what it is you must do and it is now your time to do it. Rise up and trust in your training, it will guild you through all that you face! You know your mission, now go out and finish the fight and bring glorious victory to all of us. Evil has reigned for far too long, and it is time that it banished from our kingdom back to it’s wiked lands of hell to forever rot forever.

     Continue trudging young one. Let the cool sand kiss your feet. I know you are tired and soft, but the battle will garden you quickly. Cast to the front, the war wages on. Though the enemy is strong, they cannot defeat us if we stand together. Though you are young, I have given you more strength than you know. At first light we will charge into battle! Stop all those who block the way. Do not become blood-drunk, for this is not a slaughter. Save the others, kill them not, yet slay that which is in them.

     It is a harder life, when you live it on the front. Fear not dear soldier, for our commander treats us well and keeps us safe. Even when the battle is hard, and even after you are wounded, remember to fight on. There are still innocents dieing out there, and they need our help. So trudge on dear comrade, for your mission has just begun. You may not know what lies ahead, but we will make it through. You are tired but don’t let down your guard. There are many who want to steal you away from our ranks.

     Though you are hurt, the pain will pay off. Think of the others, and what they live with. Isn’t that worth bleeding for, isn’t that worth dieing for? I will die one hundred times for a stranger, and never regret, so what will we do than for someone close? After you win the battle over your own pain, you can win the battle over someone elses. After you begin this fight, you can never stop fighting.

      We are soldiers and we fight. The more you battle the greater your strength, and the greater your strength teh more you will battle. Never stop solder’s, for the suffering continues! Join me and defeat these terrorizing scoundrals! There rein must end, let us bring a brute and violent stop to their grip on our people!

     I have been struck. A blade of the past has curved to me and I did not dodge it. Sliced open are two deep cut on my chest, some I have not seen for a while. They are not upon my fleash but upon my soul. Oh dear Captain, how could this be? I swore an oath to you and yet I have sunk in up to my knee’s. I don’t feel your embrace as of now, and I do not embrace myself. You forgive me, but I am so ashamed I do not forgive myself. How could I let this happen, I thought that I was stronger.
     Oh dear comrades, wear have you gone? I am alone to fight; and now as I bleed, perhaps to die. You helped me up once before, but now I stand alone. Only the memories of you stay by my side. When I choose to embark on this campaign I did not know the struggle would be so. It has overpowered me, and I stood by and watched. I pray for strength, for I used so much of what I had to pull the dagger from my side. Though it may not appear it, I am no more than a bug. This is what I see in the mirror, a speck of life lost in the vast space of the world.
      Pray for me, every and all of you. This is my plea. My mission now is lonely and I have begun to grow weary. There is so much left that I must do, and I am already loosing more than my steam. I am learning a troubling lesson. A lone soldier is not enough to stop Satin. I rummage through the land, looking for more of our kind. It seems that I have found myself in a place where none acknowledge the Lord. Even I am fearful with so many enemies lurking. Picking myself up I see how hard it is. I finally am realizing how much you all have carried me.
      My blade is blunt, and my shield is splintered. My armor grows heavier, with so little left in me I must pull even more. Only our Commander still stands, and I am having trouble seeing him. My blood has covered my eyes, and it limits my sight. Swinging wildly I feel myself drifting from the path. I am staggering to my feet, but I feel so lost. All of you, my dearest comrades, were recently rekindled. Your flame burns so brightly that I see it in the night sky. I see the path, but I need more strength so that I may stay on it. Use your fire to help ignite mine. I want to survive this dark trial, and it is a long road ahead. Please pray for me dear comrades. I am becoming lost in this strange land…

     This is not a poetic and inspiring piece of mine, this is what I feel now through the words that I am told to say. This my not appear to be as glorifying as some of my other pieces, yet know this. I am telling you my current story now; I am not perfect and I am not strong enough to do this on my own.   

Please Pray for me, so that I may have strength to fight to stay alive and save those around me…..  

   A new place that I have begun to call home has lied to me from the start. As I do my best to follow the righteouspath I find myself straying off, even though slightly, more and more. Satin’s grip is strong on this place, and his claws have begun to sink into my sides. I fight with all I have, reluctant to call for help since I am so ashamed. I know how to get out but am not willing to lose what little I have here. There is little for me to hold on to and I feel myself slipping. The Temptor has found weaknesses of mine, and is targeting them so he can hold me back. Everything is just so new and strange, I have yet to find a way to fight back in a place that my old weapons do not work. How am I to stay on the path and bring others to it if I have no way of relating to them? The Lord gives me strength, but only if I ask and I am stubborn.
      My comrades of my past cannot help me now, the cannot be reached for help so easily, and even then they know not of my situation. I am being torn, staying on the path without the slightest weave away, or walking off the path to get closer to those not on it. If I never leave the path then I feel that I will never be able to reach out to others to carry them onto the path with me. If I leave the path then I will be able to grab hold of them, yet at the same time I will have to carry them farther to return to the path. Though I can be very transparent, I do not want them to be scared away.
     I feel as if I cannot complete both of my tasks. One part of me screams to remain stern on the path of righteousness and another pleasethat I will take two steps away so that I can help those who are wondering in the dark. I must learn to do both, as my commanders have taught me, as they still continue to. I do not have all of the information for my mission, so I am scared of what I may find. As I reach out to them I may only push them that much farther away. My greatest fear is not completing this task of which I have been given. It is all or nothing, and only the result matters. Will I make it to the end? Is this goodbye?

To my dearest brothers,
     Too long have we watched on the sidelines. Or do you not see? Haven’t you noticed the dieing people around you? I ask you to open your eyes and see the world as I can, for you will not understand if you haven’t yet seen the world. Now listen closely and see what I see…
   

      All around us people, even the closest of friends, are being stoned to death. Their tormentors are unrecognisable and unknown to us. With a closer look you see the face of the tormentors, who shoot pain right back at you. They are demons, and they once stoned you as well. Look back at the poor person, though they are oblivious to what is happening they are slowly slipping into a dark and painful death. Who are you to stand by and watch these events unfold?
   One stands by the man who is being stoned, but the man does not receiveor even acknowledge the One. The One is Jesus, and he is standing alone, wanting to protect the man. Since the man doesnt know Jesus he runs from him too, being followed by the demons. With a closer look at the man you see him for the first time up close, he is your best friend. Look around you in your every day life. How many people around you are being tortured? How many don’t see their protector or run from him? The reason that you are not be treated this way by the demon’s is that you are protected. They recognize you, and even though they do not know what it is that is going out they ask for your help, silently or aloud they cry to you. What will you do?

    Now you have seen the world as I do, now you can hear my cry to you. I beg that you listen closely for if you do not then all the people around you will fall. If you do not head my words, you or those placed around you will have no hope. It has been placed upon us to help these suffering lost souls. It is even written that though all of these people are weak we must be strong. These are times of trouble and if we do not do anything than we are all doomed.  “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?”   -Proverbs 24:10-12

     Now unite Brothers! It is written that we must help all these people! Rise up and prove your worth to the Father. He loves you no matter what, but make him proud of you on this day. Rise up with me brothers. They do not see the one who can trulyprotect them but they see us! No more will this stand! No more can we allow them to be treated so! Show me your strength, show me your worth! We must create a mighty road-block between the demons and the loved ones around us. With Jesus in front and the tortured in back we will fight the demons. We cannot lose, for he is on our side! What is it that you have to fear if the Lord our God is on our side? The world holds tight to these people, let us shake the foundations of this stronghold as the mighty trumpets shook the great city of Jericho! Rise up Brothers! Rise up now and fight!