D-Day

I was only 19 at the time. I had grown up in Southern Georgia and helped my Pa around the farm. All was fine until 1942, that's when I heard the stories. Stories of how entire families were shoved into ovens and slowly roasted alive, stories of how millions of Jews were being sent to concentration camps and were beaten, starved, gassed, and raped.  That's when I decided to join the Army. I couldn't sit idly by and watch as fellow human beings were ruthlessly slaughtered.

I joined the Army in early 1943 and finished training a year later. I was immediately shipped to England to prepare for the invasion of Europe. For months I memorized my battle orders. I was to go with my unit to Omaha Beach and secure a landing point for the main army. The officers told us what we would face: barbed wire, machine gun nests, landmines, concrete walls, and some of Hitler's best troops. They said it was the largest amphibious invasion in history. Over 160,000 soldiers from four different nations were preparing to invade Europe.

The night before invasion, I went to the chapel service. I wasn't a praying man, but I figured it was best I became one. I heard how if we would trust in the Lord He would give us wings like eagles so we could overcome any challenge. I quietly left chapel with a heavy heart. I tried to get as much rest as I could, but I could only manage to a get few hours’ sleep before I left to board the ship. An hour before the invasion, I boarded my landing craft.

The night was cold and the sea was rough. The water chilled me to the bone. Several of the boats had capsized due the rough waves. We attempted to avoid being swamped by the surf by using our helmets to bail water. I could feel my stomach churn as I thought about the coming battle.  I looked into the distance and could see the beach. The closer we moved to the beach, the more frightened I became.  A half a mile out, our boats began to receive artillery fire. I watched as a boat just 50 feet away took a direct hit. I watched in horror as I saw bodies fly into the air. A helmet landed in our boat, bloodied.

I looked on as our boat inched closer to the shore. I made eye contact with my best friend, Joe, and nodded. It was about time to land. I said a short prayer as I felt our Higgins Boat make landfall. Our front door came down and we stormed the beach.  I was first one out. I took five steps then instinctively hit the dirt. I heard bullets whizzing over my head. I looked behind me and saw most the men in my boat gunned down. Joe made it out somehow. I looked at my watch: 7:00am.

I slowly made my way up the beach as I witnessed hundreds of soldiers blown to pieces by mortar and artillery fire. I look behind me for a brief second and saw that the ocean had turned blood red. Bodies floated in the surf. Men were struggling to wade through the surf and their comrade’s corpses.

I then looked to my left and saw Joe, yelling at me. He was only 20 feet away, but I could barely hear him over the roar of the battle. Then the unthinkable happened. I heard the whining screech of an artillery shell and watched in horror as Joe was blown to pieces. I still remember his last words: “Keep moving! Don’t give up!” Shrapnel from the shell embedded itself into my leg. I cried out in pain.

For a moment, I wanted to die. I wanted to be back home with my folks. I missed the farm. It would be picking season come shortly. But then another artillery shell brought me back to reality. It landed on the other side of me, spraying sand everywhere.

I again looked around. As far as I could see I saw dead men, many of them my age. I lay in the sand near the seashore for what seemed like an eternity, then I thought of Joe.  I remembered his last words: “Keep moving! Don’t give up!” I then recalled why I was on that God-forsaken beach. I was there because I was fighting for freedom. The freedom of the Jews, the French, the Poles- to protect my family back home; I was there to fight for liberty.

I felt a renewed purpose as I began to crawl towards the German defenses. The going was tough. It’d take five minutes just to gain an inch of ground, and for every inch of ground I watched at least ten men gunned down around me. I looked at my watch again, 9:00am.  I looked behind me and I saw something that made my heart jump. The amphibious tanks were on the beach! Finally, I thought, some heavy support!

I began to make my way up a nearby bunker. I pulled out a grenade and eyed the bunker carefully. I pulled the pin, sat up on one knee, aimed at the window, and heaved the grenade. I saw it plunk off the bottom of the bunker. I hit the dirt.

Sand and shrapnel flew everywhere. I pulled out another grenade and tried again. This time I hit my target. I heard screams as the grenade went off, then they were silent. One less bunker. I heard a thunderous boom as a nearby tank opened fire at a bunker. Our men were making progress.

Time crept by once more as we made our way to the sea wall. A mine took off a soldier’s legs to my right. Shrapnel tore into my arm. This time I gritted by teeth and plunged on. I crawled slowly, trying not to make myself a target. I could hear the screams of the dead and dying all across the beach. Tanks, artillery shells, and machine guns made it almost impossible to understand any orders.

My watch read 10:00am. The sea wall was only 75 feet away. I watched as the engineers slowly moved towards the wall. I saw three brave men make a break for the wall; one was killed instantly. I saw a German stand up on the wall to lob a grenade, so I aimed my M1 Garand at the enemy soldier and pulled the trigger twice. I saw my opponent grab his chest and fall backwards. Seconds later, I saw a flash on the other side of the wall. I had saved two lives.

I carefully watched for more German as the two men placed explosives at the bottom of the wall. One went back for more explosives while the other continued to prep the charge. I watch in horror as a German machine gun sawed off the runner’s legs. He screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.

I still don’t fully recall what happened next, all I remember is yelling “Give me cover fire!” as I ran to carry the wounded engineer to safety. I dragged the man behind a small mound and helped the medic stop the bleeding. Several minutes later, I jumped as a massive explosive erupted behind me. The engineers blew a hole in the wall!

I fell in the sand overcome with joy. We were on the verge of victory! An hour later, there were three more holes in the wall. Our men began to move towards to breaches and soon we had five thousand men prepared to storm the German defenses. Then I heard the command to charge. At first no one moved, then I saw ten men charge at once. Seven were shot, but more quickly filled their place. Soon, thousands of men were pouring through the breaches, myself included.

I remember a man with a flamethrower approaching a bunker. He poured fire through the window, and I saw five men run out of a hidden door. I watched as the fire consumed their flesh. I will never forget their screams.

At noon we finally succeeded in securing a major beachhead. The fighting continued, but not as fiercely. As the day began to conclude, I was told to have some rest, so I went to a nearby campfire and drank a cup of hot coffee. I remember feeling relieved that the day was over, sorrow for the friends I lost, and proud of my accomplishments. I felt weary as I thought of the long road ahead to Berlin, but I knew that I would just have to make that journey one step at a time. Despite the chaos around me, I would sleep well knowing I had done my duty.

Paperthin Hearts

Life is a funny thing. We think it's so long, that life goes on forever, but it doesn't. Why does it take great tragedy's and hardships to remind us what's truly important? This past year, I lost an old friend in a car accident. He was 18. We played little league baseball together. It's hard to believe that he's gone. I still remember the last time I saw him. It was back in 2009 at a mutual friend's sweet-16. I never would've guessed that it would be the last time I saw him alive.

Even we grow older, the memories fade, and the names are forgotten there are some people who just stick with you. When I was in 7th grade at church camp, I met this one girl from Georgia. I can't remember her name but I will never forget her face or the sound of her voice. I don't know why she sticks out in my mind, she just does. Something about her character I guess. I felt that she honestly cared about me.

I just recently met another person like that. It was in history class. I don't know why we started talking, we just did. I saw her sitting around in the lounge on campus when I decided to talk to her. It was strange, I had never talked to her previously, but there was this unseen force that pulled me towards her. It was this feelings that weighed upon my soul that urged me to speak to her. When I talked to her, it was like I had found a kindred spirit. Even though I had just met her, I knew deep down that I had found someone I could trust. For the first time in over a year, I found someone who made me feel completely at peace. This had only happened to me once before. I never could've imagined that I'd find such a good friend.

As I progress in life, I do my best to cherish the time I have with friends. This life is but a vapor, here today but gone tomorrow. Life is so fragile. We never know when this moment could be our last. We must cherish the times we have with friends and family and share our love freely as a gift to the world. Life is too short, too cold to live without letting those around that we care. The worst thing that can happen is that person knows that they are loved. And that's pretty dang good.

Darkness and Light

What Is Darkness?

Darkness destroys and in the darkness the evil things dwell. It consumes all it touches. It is a home for the evil within a soul and with it, evil is manifested. It gives nothing and wants all. Darkness ravages all it sees. It is chaos, it is destruction, it is fear, it is death. Darkness inhabits every corner of this world. It inhabits our very soul.

Darkness seeks out its prey as a shark smells blood, as a wolf hunts a beast, as a man hates his brother. Darkness feels nothing, for emotion died long ago. Its sole purpose is to torture the living. Darkness wants only devastation for it delights only in the agony of others. With darkness comes evil, and with evil, darkness.

These two brothers ravage the world and bring only destruction and death. As they move, a visible path of carnage can be seen. Everything can be distinguished to be good or evil by its fruit. Darkness brings only death, horror, agony, and ruin. It seeks to pull everything living thing into a formless void. That is darkness.

What Is Light?

Light is hope. It is salvation, it is love, it is joy. Light reveals everything for with light comes truth, and with truth, justice. Nothing can hide from its everlasting rays. Darkness cannot hide for light expels the dark. Light is the essence of all that’s good. It is all encompassing.

Light rejoices not with pain and suffering, but with the truth and with love. Light seeks those who are lost in the darkness and saves them. Light is humble in spirit, but is like an angry bear when its children are threatened. Light seeks only the betterment of others and loves all that seek salvation. Light is thing that brings hope in a dark world, for darkness is only the absence of light.

Light is all that we love and hold dear. It is worth fighting for, nay, dying for. It brings hope to a world full of darkness. It loves those who are broken, it heals the wounded, it destroys evil. That is light.

The Problem of Evil

The other day I was presented with the following argument:

(1) Gratuitous evils probably exist.
(2) Gratuitous evils are incompatible with the God of theism (omnipotent, omniscient, all-good).
(3) Therefore, the God of theism probably does not exist.

After analyzing this argument, I found several errors with this line of thinking. The entire argument rests upon the premise that gratuitous evil exists. Yet, the argument says that gratuitous evil probably exists. It's not definitive. To answer the question whether or there is gratuitous evil, we must first answer the question what is evil? Evil has become a word so flippantly used that its true meaning has been lost.

Evil has been commonly defined as "something that deliberately causes destruction or violates morality." Now its vital to understand the essence of morality. There are two leading theories in regards to morality. Relative morality and absolute morality.

The theory of relative morality is flawed for several reasons. 1. Relative morality can be summed up simply: There is no absolute truth, there is no absolute standard for right and wrong. Yet, notice that this term is said to be true. How then can it be true that there is no absolute truth? It makes no logical sense. 2. C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity that there is the "Law of Nature" which provides a basic sense of right and wrong. This "moral conscious" is present in every human being. Cultures throughout history have all regarded selfishness and stealing as a vice. Think of it this way: Will an argument of "my truth does not find stealing wrong" be upheld in a court of law? Never! Such an argument is ludicrous. Likewise, an argument of relative morality is ludicrous.

The Constitution of the United States is the absolute law of the land. It was created by the creators of the country to be the Supreme Law. For absolute morality to be absolute, it must be set by the leading authority. But by what authority can morality be set? Standard for morality and decency vary in each culture. Is there a man alive who has the authority to create such a important standard? By what authority can he create such a standard? If man is indeed equal, then we a equally qualified to set the standard for morality. However, since the standard for morality cannot change as was stated earlier, someone, something, more powerful than man must have created the standard for morality.

This leads to an important conclusion. God is the ultimate standard for morality. He defines immorality as anything that breaks His commands. This is called sin. Sin originated not in the Garden of Eden, but at the feet of God. Satan, head of God's angels, grew jealous of God's power and wanted to become like God. Satan sought to overthrow God, yet he was unable to match God's limitless power. Satan fled to earth and tempted Adam and Eve with power, telling them they could be like God Himself. After their rebellion, evil entered the earth.

To understand gratuitous evil, we must first look at the definition of gratuitous. Gratuitous can be defined as "pointless, meaningless, random, or unnecessary." But can evil be "pointless, meaningless, random, or unnecessary?" Evil can be summed up as this: Anything that seeks to rebel against God's absolute power and holiness. Under this definition, can there be gratuitous evil? No! When we choose to rebel against God, we choose evil. Evil is not the random result of eons of time, but the deliberate and purposefully choices of beings with an eternal soul. Therefore, gratuitous evil does not exist and theory that God is a myth falls to pieces.

Lessons from 2009

I've gone through a lot in a year. I look back and I see how I've changed so drastically. I've gone through the fire and come out again, yet I did not return without scars. Nonetheless, I've learned many lessons that others don't learn for years. The following are ten life lessons I learned in 2009.

1. Guard your heart. Your heart is the most precious thing you have, protect it. When you love someone romantically, you give away a piece of your heart. That's something you can never regain. Don't awaken feelings of romantic love until you're ready for marriage. Also, be careful who you trust. It's important to guard yourself from those who don't have your best interests at heart.

2. People wear masks. Everyone wears a mask. There isn't one person alive who doesn't wear a mask in some way. People use masks to hide their fears, their insecurities, and their secrets from the world. Try to identify that mask and see the person behind the mask. Analyze a person's words, actions, and body language to determine their true character.

3. Take off the mask. Show the world the real you. Tell it what you really think. Don't be afraid to stand out and speak up for what's right. When you're around those who honestly care about you, take off the mask. There should be no reason that you should be ashamed to show everything about yourself.

4. Live life with no regrets. When you take off the mask, there should be no deed that would bring you shame. Don't do anything that you would be ashamed of if everyone knew. On the other hand, don't let fear stopping you from living a joy-filled life. Time is precious. Nevertheless describes it best in their song "Live Like We're Alive:" We're here only for a second, but then we're gone when we least expect. So do more than survive, let's live like we're alive.

5. Your legacy is what you make it. People won't remember how much money you had, the size of your house, the popularity you achieved; people will remember for how you made them feel. Influence those around you to do good, encourage them to persevere, and comfort them in tough times. You do these things, you'll have a wonderful legacy.

6. Life is full of pain. It doesn't matter what you do in life, you'll experience pain. Happiness just doesn't work, it's impossible to ignore the pain withing becoming numb to the world around you. How you respond to pain reflects your character. Some people shut down, some gut it out, while others want revenge. Few people reflect and learn from their pain. Never let yourself become numb to the pain. It's better to feel pain than nothing at all. For if you can feel pain, that means you are capable of feeling love.

7. Never take things for granted. It's true, you never know what you have until it is gone. This is true for both material possessions and or the relationships that you have. One day, you can be best friends with someone, the next day worst enemies. Don't take things for granted.

8. Dream big. You have dreams for a reason, pursue those dreams. Find out why God gave you those dreams. Use those dreams for God's glory. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity lasts forever." Even if you make a small difference in the world, it's better than settling for mediocrity. Set aside your fears and stand out. Make a difference in the world.

9. Know Thyself. Learn as much as you can about yourself. Know your strengths, your weaknesses, and your tendencies. Sharpen your strengths and build up your weakness. Understanding your thought process is a small, but necessary step to success.

10. Love. It all comes down to this. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Everything in history points towards this verse. It's all about love. The love we have for each other and the love we have for Jesus Christ.

Our future, our legacy is in hands. It's up to us to decide the legacy we will leave on the world. 33 Miles says in their song "One Life to Love," We have one life, one chance, one life to love. Life is too short to care only about yourself. Look around, take a glance into the eyes of the hurting. There's a world out there that's crying out for love. The best way to leave a legacy is to leave a legacy for Christ.

This generation has the opportunity to be a generation like no other. It's up to us to decide how we will change the world. Will we leave a legacy of love or a legacy of selfishness? What legacy will you have? The choice is yours. The time has come. Life starts now.

Rebels

His black leather jacket and rugged blue jeans contrasted dramatically with the buttoned-down collared shirts and crisp khaki pants worn by his contemporaries. His dress and sullen expression, marked by a cigarette dangling from his lips, reflected his defiant attitude towards authority. Movie star James Dean was the iconic rebel both on and off screen with his reckless behavior and disregard for society’s rules. Rebels are routinely labeled as bad influences due to their destructive behavior. Yet rebels can challenge society’s norms and still have many commendable, even heroic, qualities. Rebels share their visions to give people hope that the world’s injustices can be righted. Through their unwavering courage and resolute perseverance, rebels help us accomplish incredible feats.

Before rebels begin to change the world, they clearly picture what they want to accomplish. Most importantly, rebels share their dreams convincingly in order to motivate others. Sixty year ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a rebel who wanted to end racial conflict in America. In his I Have A Dream speech, he envisioned an America in which men were judged by their character, not by their race. However, is it one thing to have a dream and another to turn that dream into reality. Rebels turn abstract visions into concrete actions. Dr. King’s words were not just rhetoric; they were backed with deeds. Throughout the South, Dr. King staged peaceful demonstrations, marched on state capitals, and boycotted city bus systems, thereby setting the stage for change. Yet when rebels enact their visions, challenges will inevitably occur. Rebels foresee problems and deal with them accordingly. In the midst of fierce opposition, Dr. King had a plan for conflict. Drawing on his solid knowledge of scripture, Dr. King declared, “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.” He encouraged his fellow rebels to respond peacefully, thereby refusing to give his opponents a reason for violence and disarming potentially destructive situations. Dr. King exemplified the heroic rebel. Like Dr. King, rebels are unafraid to challenge society’s standards and have the keen ability to see what others cannot see. They not only make opportunities to enact their visions, but also anticipate challenges and overcome difficulties to bring about lasting change.

In the face of overwhelming odds, rebels show uncommon courage. Likewise, they clearly exhibit unwavering bravery when making tough decisions. George Washington courageously rebelled against tyrannical England and helped lead the colonies in their fight for independence. In December 1777, Washington faced a dilemma. Across the Delaware River lay an opportunity to strike a decisive victory for the colonists, but Washington’s soldiers were weary from fighting in the bitter cold. Washington could immediately attack but risk a perilous assault across the river. Weighing the risks, Washington made the difficult decision to cross the Delaware and was victorious. Rebels also respond bravely in the face of danger, even when starring at death. When his commanding officer was killed during the French and Indian War, Washington took charge. He fearlessly dodged bullets while attempting to rally his troops, and two horses were shot from under him. But Washington remained undeterred, saving his unit from slaughter. Rebels have the tenacity, furthermore, to go against popular opinion. At Valley Forge, Washington watched as his army dissolved. Even as his troops became mutinous, Washington refused to surrender, although many of his peers said it was foolish to continue fighting. Rebels such as Washington are unafraid to make tough decisions when facing insurmountable odds. Through their unfaltering courage, rebels remain calm and resolute through the most perilous situations, even when forced to stand alone.

But rebels’ stands are not just one-time events; rebels often undergo many lengthy emotional and physical trials. Rebels posses the resolve to fight for years to achieve their visions. William Wilberforce, a representative of the British Parliament during Colonial times, set out to abolish the slave trade within the British Empire. For twenty agonizing years, Wilberforce met failure but continued to fight. Rebels also persevere through personal attacks. When Wilberforce made his controversial stand against the slave trade, many of his opponents declared that he did not have Britain’s best interests at heart. Since England’s relations with America were strained, Wilberforce’s correspondence with American Thomas Jefferson caused some British to label Wilberforce a traitor. Furthermore, rebels remain headstrong through physical challenges. After two decades of constant stress, Wilberforce’s health was failing. Painful bouts with colitis left Wilberforce weak, and soon he became addicted to opium. Wilberforce had every reason to give up, but he still refused to quit. His steadfast determination was rewarded when, after decades of debate, Parliament overwhelmingly voted to end the slave trade within the British Empire. Rebels such as Wilberforce display uncanny persistence in achieving their visions. Despite the time, personal cost, or physical toll exacted, rebels refuse to back down from their fights.

James Dean personified the classic bad boy in his movie Rebel Without A Cause. Yet rebels can be respectful individuals who bring about much needed change. Rebels envision the impossible as possible. Demonstrating dogged valor, they confront any challenges that await them. Rebels staunchly fight to right wrongs long after others have retired from the conflict. Unlike James Dean, heroic rebels can indeed have a cause. Rebels are true change makers, and the world is a better place because of them.