Winter Quarters - a veteran's true tale taken from Contemplations on the Ways of the Lord, by Jerry Ogles.

          A gentle breeze stirred the golden leaves of a tall Maple tree and softly caressed the cheek

of the old man. Old Charlie slowly aroused from a light slumber to find a red poppy in his

hand where some kind soul had placed it while he was dozing. A faded Afghan covered his

lap and feet on which the barely discernible imprint of da Vinci's Last Supper could be

discovered.

         Old Charlie enjoyed sitting out on the lawn of the nursing home in his wheelchair where hecould smell the grass and natural fragrances of God's good earth. He loved to soak up the warmth of the sun on slightly brisk, clear days.

         Charlie was an old soldier - there are no former soldiers, just soldiers who grow older and older. Charlie had experienced all the terror of the Great World War Two, having arrived

on the Ardennes Forest Line with the Ninth US Army just as the major breakout attempt

was staged by a mad dictator and his very deadly armor. Snow covered the grounds of the

Ardennes that day in December, 1944, when the lines of the Allied powers were thrown

back as German Tigers breached the defenses. Charlie remembers those days of horror and

misery. He remembers each of his comrades and their names who shared that experience.

Though his memory is fading, he can recite every significant detail of the German

offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge.

         The old man feels guilty somehow that he seems to be the only one left who remembers

 hat great Battle and the reason that he help fight it. As a matter of fact, Charlie feels like a

straggler. It seems that all his familiar comrades who shared in his wartime experiences

have been reassigned and shipped out. Only Charlie remains. He feels like a straggler, and

in a way, Charlie is just that. He has outlived his value to a society that has forgotten how

to be grateful. The character and courage of his generation is passé to our current

politically-correct mind-set.

         Charlie sometimes relives his military experience in episodes of vivid dreams which come to him as angels on soft snow. He remembers his friend Roy Soloff from New Jersey who spent his post war years restoring sight to the blind. Roy transferred out earlier this year......

    The Old Man wonders about Roy and what he is doing this very moment. Roy understood, but Roy is not here anymore to share the hard fought battles of a long ago dream. Through the mist of Time, Charlie can see all their smiling faces. Funny how we remember our friends always smiling. More and more, Charlie feels moments of deep sorrow. He doesn't know why he feels this way, but he cannot help it. His eyes dim with the mist of tears. But no one is there to ask, "Charlie, why are you crying?" Everyone else is so very, very busy.

         The pride and joy of Charlie's present life are his two sons and five daughters but it seems that, though they try ever so hard, they never are able to get the free time to come and visit their old father. If Molly Darling was here, she would comfort him. She would know just the right words to make him know that all was well with the world and with Charlie.                     Only, his Darling Molly is not here - she has gone on and left Charlie. Charlie remembers that old Song: ‘Do You Love Me Molly Darling.’ That was the theme song adopted by him and Molly during their courting days. And he remembers the days of his youth when the world was green with life and promise, and when he met Molly Collins. That was a kind of love that never dies. He was the only man Molly ever knew and cared to know. Charlie still possessed the heart of Molly wherever she was.

         When the war came, Charlie went. He left his dear Molly and two small children. Molly remained his steadfast supporter across those thousands of miles of blue waters.

The Old Man recalled the military sounds of armor and jeeps, of Ruffles and Flourishes,

commands shouted during company drill, the crisp and certain notes of the bugle sounding

across the Parade Ground. He recalled the crisp starch of newly laundered khakis and the

laboriously achieved sparkle of spit shined shoes. Those were days when the air itself was

pristine and clean. But now, the drums are muffled and the bugle no longer sounds. Where

did it all go? For many years after the war, there were Veterans Day Parades - and Charlie

was always invited.

         But those days have gone glimmering. No one seems to remember or care about what

Charlie did in those days more than half a century ago or even remember the names of

those Battles which were fought to make our Freedoms of today certain.

        The late afternoon air took on a bit of a chill as Charlie slumbered again. As he closed his eyes, all the color and drama of the years again played in his mind's eye. Somewhere, very far away, Charlie heard the bugle again and the muffled beat of the drum. The old familiar sounds grew louder and more persistent. What was the call? Ah, yes, it was Taps.         And once again, Charlie found himself on the banks of the river as his unit was preparing to make the Roer River crossing, but this time, Charlie is crossing alone. Where are all the

others? Charlie descends into the murky waters of the River and feels very weak and

almost unable to carry on. When he feels he can go no further, the waters seem more

shallow and calm under his boots. His feet are light and easy. His breath comes naturally

and unlabored, and now Charlie sees all his old comrades coming to meet him at the

River's far bank. Roy, and Joe, and Needham, and Pallone and all the others. Even Molly is

there. How was she ever able to arrange it! The Jordan Waters part in God’s time.

         The bugle continued to play its crisp notes, but Charlie had been mistaken - the call was not Taps, it was Reveille!

 “My Sword, I give to him that shall succeed me in my

pilgrimage, and my Courage and Skill, to him that can get it. My Marks and Scars I carry

with me, to be a witness for me, that I have fought His Battles who now will be my

Rewarder. When the day that he must go hence, was come, many accompanied him to the

river side, into which, as he went, he said, Death where is thy sting? And as he went down

deeper, he said, Grave, where is thy Victory? So he passed over, and the Trumpets sounded

for him on the other side.” John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress (1678)

God bless all our wounded or killed in defense of our freedoms, and may our Veterans be

blessed today and forever!

 

(Old Charlie was my father - a man of silent strength)

 

Not all the people, only those who are called by His Name:

 

Click on URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk-vIUS83_U

 

RUTH - Sent Away Full

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. 15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. (Ruth 3:14-18)

 

            There are more than a few fascinating points in these last few verses of Ruth, Chapter 3 – in fact, the entire Book offers enough fascinating facts to keep us meditating thereupon for a long while. 

            The advice of Boaz to Ruth, to lie down until the morning, fell on the soil of a good heart. “But that (seed which fell) on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15) Certainly, patience is a Christian virtue, and Ruth was full of every virtue. Paul expresses that patience well: “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:25) This is the kind of patience Ruth will now demonstrate, and further show in the day following. She only has the word of her Lord of the Harvest (Boaz), but that is enough to justify her patience for she has come to know him well as one who cares for her. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)  We have the Word of our Lord, as well, and that is more than enough to justify faith. Our Lord Promised to redeem us in the fullness of time which He has done. He has promised to prepare a place for  His Bride – the Church (you and me) – and He shall fulfill the pledge. 

            Enduring the night on faith alone is sometimes very difficult, but not to one whose heart is full of faith and love. Even though she waits in darkness, her Lord is near for she is at his feet. She may not SEE him, but he is right beside. God is the High Tower of Ruth to see all of her circumstances. He will work all things to her good. Boaz has promised to marry Ruth if the nearest kinsman does not redeem. The Angel of the Lord will work on the heart of the nearest kinsman redeemer to disallow his redemption of Ruth clearing the way for Boaz. Ruth’s name shall be changed to that of Boaz in due time – it is certain. She will wait during the dark hours and arise early with her reward.  “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalms 17:15) Marriage means taking on the likeness of one’s spouse “for they two shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) “And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.”

            God’s great works are done in and by Him for us. Sometimes the surest way to allow God’s work to be done is for us to simply get out of the way and stop trying, by our own power, to accomplish what He is best able to do.  “Their strength is to sit still.” (Isa 30:7b) This will be the case with Ruth. Ruth did not commune with Boaz, the Lord of the Harvest, in vain. One never goes away empty who communes with the Lord of the Harvest. “Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.” Those who come to the Lord of the Harvest will leave full just as the five thousand who were fed, from pitifully small portions, by Jesus; and the four thousand who were fed by seven loaves and two fishes.  

            Read an interesting comment by Adam Clarke on the numbers of measure to which the Book refers: “If the omer be meant, which is about six pints, the load would not be so great, as this would amount to but about four gallons and a half; a very goodly present. The Targum says, that on receiving these six measures "it was said in the spirit of prophecy, that from her should proceed the six righteous persons of the world, viz., David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the King Messiah; each of whom should be blessed with six benedictions." It is, however, remarkable, that the Targum makes the Messiah to spring from her through the line of David, and goes down to Daniel and his companions; which Daniel prophesied so clearly, not only of the advent of Messiah the prince, but also of the very time in which he was to come, and the sacrificial death he was to die.”—Adam Clarke's Commentary. I consider it remarkable for the Jews did not recognize the Messiah when He sprang forth though they clearly taught of Him. (JLO)

            Note the searching greeting of Naomi: “And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter?” There is beautiful truth couched in the inquiry of Naomi. She readily admits Ruth to always be her daughter, but “Who else” is she now? Is she the betrothed of Boaz yet? No, but she is as nearly betrothed to Boaz as he can make her to be under the present circumstances; however, he wastes no daylight hours in securing the matter as we shall soon see. We are our old carnal selves until we have taken upon us the Name of Christ – then we are new creatures in Him. We bear His Name and likeness forevermore!

            “And she told her all that the man had done to her.” This has no reference to some carnal or immoral act, but all the kindness and generosity with which Boaz has treated Ruth, and his strong promise. “And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.” When a man loves a woman, he loves all of the trappings and kin that are attached to her.  The world saw Ruth as a stranger among the people of Bethlehem – a woman from Moab; but God sees, even at this moment, in Ruth the wife of Boaz, mother of Obed, of Jesse, of David, and eventually Jesus Christ! How marvelous are the works of God and beyond our finding out! Boaz sees clearly the same vision – Ruth will become his bride if he has his way…..and he will!

            Naomi is quite the judge of character, for she has analyzed that character of Boaz to the fullest: “Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.” It was quite true that Naomi recognized, from all that Ruth had told her, that Boaz was madly in love with Ruth. There are no barriers that will stay the waters of love from flowing and coursing through the dunes and deserts of impossible odds. Boaz will set about, without a minute’s waste of daylight, to settle the issue with the nearest kinsman. He will be wise and subtle in his deliberations with him – not confiding the beauty and character of Ruth to the nearest kinsman, only the undesirable consequences to the nearest kinsman of redeeming Naomi and Ruth. He appeals to the man’s baser character and greed to preserve his inheritance untarnished by the claims of a relative’s son.

            The next chapter is full of beauty and meaning which are a fitting climax to a wonderful story of love, redemption, and Gospel Shadows for the future Lord of the Harvest….and of the world.

 THE FAMILY ALTAR:

April 22.

"Go and tell Peter." Mark 16:7.

The joyous Easter tidings impose a sacred missionary duty

on all of us. "Go and tell Peter," the Easter angel says to the

women at the empty grave of our Lord. Why does He single out

Peter from the rest of the disciples? Because poor fallen Peter,

most of all, needed to learn the blessed Easter news. In the bitter

repentance over his shameful denial of his Lord and Master he

could not think otherwise than that the risen Lord would take

all the other disciples back into His grace, but never him, the

great sinner and backslider. So just he is to be told that his

risen Lord still loves him, and has forgiven him, and therefore

wants to meet him with the other disciples in Galilee. Behold

what a merciful Savior we have in our risen Lord! He will not

deal with us after our sins, nor reward us according to our

iniquities. He is ready to forgive even the backsliding among

His followers and to take them again into His blest companionship.

Ah, the world about us is full of fallen Peters, of backsliders,

who have denied or still deny their Lord. How many, oh, how

many, vowed to be faithful to Him unto death when they renewed

their baptismal vow at His altar, and, lo ! it needed but a few

months or a few years and their Savior was forgotten, forgotten

His Gospel, forgotten His altar, forgotten their sacred vow; they

live with the world and for the world, and practically say as

Peter said: "I do not know this man Jesus." Yet they are not

happy. Eemorse often gnaws at their hearts, and in secret they

long to be back with their Savior, with His Gospel, with His

Church. Where we know of such a faithless Peter, let us make

it our business to tell him the blessed truth that the risen Lord

still loves him and is anxious to have him back in His saving fold.

"Go and tell Peter!" Let us not forget that sacred Easter duty.

Fill with the radiance of Thy grace

The souls now lost in error's maze,

And all whom in their secret minds

Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.

And all who else have strayed from Thee,

O gently seek! Thy healing be

To every wounded conscience given,

And let them also share Thy heaven.