I could be a Marine!!! Today for the first time in my life I did three pull-ups with no help. I know, not a huge deal, but that is Marine Corp standard for women. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to pass Marine Corp standards to be able to understand their life a bit more. Yet I have come to realize that their lives are very different than mine.
They must be up at 5:00am every morning to PT with their Sergeants. Then be at work by 7:30 after chow and getting into uniforms. They are told what to do all day long humbly submitting to their authorities with “Yes, Sir!” and salutes. They count ammo, drive 5-ton trucks, do paper work, clean EVERYTHING only to have what they just cleaned get dirty (wait, I DO know what that feels like), stay at work until they are dismissed, keep their bodies at a certain weight and type to be mission ready to go at any time. They are put on restriction when one gets out of line, which means they can’t go off base. They also are not allowed to drive here so they walk, take a bus that takes hours to go a few miles, or they pay $50 for a cab. They always have to have a buddy for accountability and they can be called in anytime. They live in barracks with cockroaches and dirty air conditioners that may or may not work. They can’t cook for themselves as there are no stoves and only a few common refrigerators so they have to walk to the chow hall in all types of weather to eat. They even have to follow a certain dress code when they are in civilian clothes.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some of these Marines by visiting them at the barracks and on their job sites. They come from all walks of life and many have a past that would break your heart yet here they are serving us all by being ready to die for country. They come and eat the food I make and rave about it whether it’s good or not. They high five Annabelle and smile at her innocence. They miss home, siblings, mom’s, dad’s, and friends. They miss their freedom defending ours.
They make mistakes and are not angels yet my heart aches for them to have hope. They can put on a show, but many are lonely, feel misunderstood, and are tired of being yelled at. They enter the Corp with rose-colored glasses ready to gloriously defend their country, yet many leave only cleaning the can.
Yeah, I can do three pull-ups, but I don’t think I could be a Marine.
Honestly, we love these Marines. They stink, are dirty, and curse more than sailors yet each one is made in the image of God. Our hope is to bring them the good news of Christ who also did dirty jobs like washing feet and walking for miles to get somewhere. He was yelled at, cursed at, and felt lonely. He missed His family and friends for a mission too. He also fought a fight so hard that He died so his friends would live. Yet He rose from death defeating the enemy for good and giving life to all who believe, even stinky Marines and their Chaplain. This is good news!
So as you are free to live life the way you choose today, remember there are those who don’t so you can. Thank them. For those of you who put their faith in the Savior Christ who fought and conquered the power of death so you can live, thank Him. And I pray that those who have not trusted in Christ to receive freedom, that you will.