It seems strangely fitting that my maiden voyage into the world of blogging begins with a reflection upon an old hero of mine. He was an everyman, a nobody who became a somebody simply because he had the (mis)fortune of being able to wield a pen. His writings left a mark on the riverbank of time that would have otherwise been eroded but for the momentous occasions that swept him away from home and into bloody conflict. It was his dedicated scribblings that have preserved for us a window into the aspirations, privations, and sacrifices of himself and the nameless folk we call “common” and “average.” He has long given me perspective on my own trials and at times, enriched my ability to appreciate what I have. His name is Joseph Plumb Martin, a private in one of the six Connecticut regiments of the Continental Army. For this article, I wanted to focus on the power of friendship in the midst of hardship, and of using one’s intrinsic gifts no matter the circumstances.
Joseph was only sixteen years old when he joined Washington’s army in the year of 1776. For eight years he served his country, marching from state to state in all weather, sometimes in shoes formed out of scraps of ox-hide that gnawed his feet and ankles raw if any shoes were to be found at all. His beliefs and intentions for why he and his compatriots fought are varied and shift throughout the eight years of conflict, but in the end, it was affection for, and connection to, his fellow soldiers that saw him through to the end of the war.
His story, despite coming face to face with the brutal and bloody experiences of war, is not unlike our own. We have all made decisions that we regret (Joseph openly expressed regret in joining the army during the winters at Valley Forge where roughly 3000 men died of starvation and cold-exposure that winter). We have all suffered through seasons of internal and external turmoil, wrestled with our own sense of purpose, and buried deep within ourselves painful beliefs and perceptions that we don’t know how to address. How do we approach, understand, and heal these parts of ourselves? Relationship. We are intrinsically designed to connect, encourage, refine, and be refined by others.
Please ponder these remarks from Joseph’s journal and try to think of those special people in your own life that have given light to your path…
“I confess after all, that my anticipation of the happiness I should experience upon such a day as this (the official end of the war) was not realized. I can assure the reader that there was as much sorrow as joy transfused on the occasion. We had lived together as a family of brothers for several years (setting aside some little family squabbles like most other families), had shared with each other the hardships, dangers, and sufferings incident to a soldier’s life, had sympathized with each other in trouble and sickness; had assisted in bearing each other’s burdens, or strove to make them lighter by counsel and advice; had endeavored to conceal each other’s faults, or make them appear in as good a light as they would bear. In short, the soldiery, each in his particular circle of acquaintance, were as strict a bond of brotherhood as masons and, I believe, as faithful to each other. And now we were to be parted (the greater part of us) forever; as unconditionally separated as though the grave lay between us. . . . I question if there was a corps in the army that parted with more regret than ours did.”
Good people matter. So who comes to mind for you? Who has encouraged you? Believed in you? Shared your trials, or helped bear your burdens, if even for a little while? I would love to hear your comments and stories of receiving support, encouragement, and care below this article!
Let us rejoice in the support of friends and loved ones in seasons of distress. And let us have the courage to have hearts bent toward gratitude so that we can see the little rays of light and goodness that lead us out of the darkness and into a new day.
Again, I quote a poem written by my old friend:
“A man with morbid pains oppress’d
Who feels the nightmare in his breast;
Rejoices when the pressure’s o’er,
And the distress is felt no more:
So war and tumults, when they cease,
Bring comfort in the thoughts of peace.
When we see t’end of strife and war
And gain what we contended for;
Remember that our thanks are due
To Him whose mercy brings us through.”
I know that for me, my parents, husband, and some very good friends have helped me become a better version of myself over the years. Without them, I would have struggled even more with the question of who I was and who I was endeavoring to become. We are who we are, and yet, we are also defined by the relationships we make -friend, spouse, brother, sister, etc. So it is good to intentionally notice who we have surrounded ourselves with and be faithful in showing them love.
Over the years I have seen how God used people to refine, shape, challenge, and heal me. People are God’s Plan A in growing us, challenging us, comforting us, and loving us. So what ways can you say thank you to those special people, your little bond of brotherhood, in your life, today?
And, as a rather significant side-note, I wanted to acknowledge the gifting that Jospeh was born with: writing, observation, and the need to creatively express himself. It was for his own pleasure, and very likely his own sanity during the war, that Joseph kept a journal. He remarks that his writing abilities never reached the level of refinement he desired because his formative years were used up in service of his country and not in school. But I hope you see that his imperfection did not keep him from writing anyway. He did not deny his intrinsic desire to create and express himself despite a lack of refinement, despite hardship, and despite his own critique of himself. I know I found encouragement in that, growing up.
So how can you connect with and use your intrinsic gifts right now, regardless of how imperfect they may be, or how chaotic life might be right now? You never know -you might just be creating history.
Solo Gloria Deo,
Hannah
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