Mighty Warriors and Heroes

Over the weekend…

…At church, Minister-Lou was describing Gideon, fearful, hiding thinking he’s a nobody. An angel appears and says, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’ Another Bible calls him, ‘Mighty Hero…’

Gideon doesn’t want to be noticed, important, take on leadership responsibility… a mighty warrior, a hero?

…On TV we heard about Glaswegian Bill Millin who played the bagpipes on the D-day landings in Normandy.

Coming ashore his commander ordered twenty-one-year-old Bill to start playing his bagpipes. Millin later said, ‘That sounded rather ridiculous to me to play the bagpipes and entertain people just like on Brighton sands in peacetime,’

Men were dying, others running past him. Millin marched up and down until he was left alone on the beach playing his bagpipes. Bill Millin, ‘The Mad Piper’, was a warrior, a hero.

We saw ‘The Buddy Holly Story’ in Ipswich. We remembered his Texas beginnings with rockabilly and country music, his rise to international stardom, his legendary final performance and his tragic death, aged just 22.

His passion for rock-an-roll, the catalogue of songs that he wrote and his determination to perform despite opposition, were vital influences in the development of music. To me Buddy Holly was a warrior and hero.

At Men’s Shed, Ben was describing his prostate cancer diagnosis, his family’s reaction, his feelings… Ben’s radiotherapy treatment starts this week. Tom explained how he’d completed the treatment a few months ago. Terry and Andy also reassured Ben. They’d had radiotherapy for their prostate cancer and were clear now.

In the grand scheme of things Ben’s cancer diagnosis and treatment is of little significance. To Ben’s friends and family he will be a warrior and hero.

Returning to Gideon… ‘Mighty heroic warrior, the Lord is with you.’ Despite his fears and insecurities, he became that heroic warrior… because The Lord is with you’ – he knew and experienced his God’s transforming presence.

Musing… God comes to me: ‘Mighty heroic warrior, the Lord is with you.’ How do I respond?