Recently, I visited Victory Midtown Church to watch a friend get baptized. During the message, the pastor spoke about how we must prepare ourselves for war everyday in order to achieve inner peace. Through preparation and prayer, we glean the peace of mind that we are prepared for any adversity or evil that threatens us.
The message resonated with me on many levels:
1) Through discipline, we gain freedom - Jocko Willink Video
2) "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca
Adversity and struggle is ALWAYS opportunity, so prepare for hardship in order to orchestrate luck.
3) Good and evil are in constant states of flux in this world. Fight for more good in the world by being good and bolstering the ranks of positivity and constructive change.
After marinating on this sermon, I wrote a poem about the war for peace during my solo brunch at Mary Mac's Tea Room.
The War for Peace
Every sunrise trumpets
A new day’s battle
Unrelenting war for peace
Resolved not to rattle
Path to peace is wrought
With tireless toil and strife
So wake up with war paint
Dawning shield and knife
Shalom in sheath
Intuition in hand
Adversity barriers back
Glass armor from sand
Struggle breeds strength
Challenges change hearts
Trials sharpen minds,
Made whole from hard parts
An internal journey
For external ends
Yin and yang linked
War and peace form friends
The Valley of peace
Lies beyond mountains of war
Fighting forward everyday
For serenity’s core
- Matt
If you'd like to listen to Victory's "Live Stronger" series, referenced above, check it out here: https://victoryatl.com/midtown/strongerseries/