In Battle
Fighting For, With, and Against
Some weeks are peaceful; others are battlegrounds. I am writing to you from a place of battle; here I ponder what I am fighting for, with, and against.
Note. Image created using Microsoft Copilot.
My Mysterious Mind
This week has been a battle on various fronts, work, finances, family, body, and property. It’s Saturday afternoon as I write, feeling beat up across my body, heart, mind, and spirit. Lacking the energy to provide details, I will offer only highlights so I can reserve energy to complete this message.
At my workplace, factions are choosing sides and lining up for a battle. Tensions and emotions are higher for many people than have been experienced in decades (according to long-term employees; I am new to this place). There is fear and there are tears emerging from even the most stalwart among us.
Our personal finances are fine, but my husband and I have fended off invaders through a social media attack. Moving quickly, we blocked accounts and turned off credit access. The outcome likely includes no harm, just weariness from fighting.
There have been some strange interactions in the family arena. Good news we expected, as parents, to hear directly, arrived via a circuitous route. Strange verbal skirmishes emerged at a recent family gathering.
My dinner from Thursday night attacked me on Friday morning. I will spare you the gross details.
On I-44, traveling for a graduation, the tonneau cover on my husband’s truck tore loose and whipped dangerously until we could find a safe place to pull over. Possessions secured in the bed of the truck required rapid relocation into the back seat of the cab. Unable to protect some of our travel supplies in the truck bed added substantial stress to our visit out of town.
What have you been fighting lately? I can’t say with certainty my recent set of attacks is more than coincidence, but it has created a flurry of mental activity about fighting. Sometimes we are fighting for something or someone. At other times we are fighting against. And, in every battle we fight with someone or something. What can we learn about being in the battle, fighting for, with, and against?
Message of Mystery Acres
Instead of writing about my beloved forest I would like to expand on what has been churning in my mysterious mind. I haven’t been to the sanctuary of Mystery Acres this week; a visit there would be a welcome refuge from this week’s siege. I hope to visit in a few days.
Humans have been fighting for thousands of years. Husbands and wives fight; parents and children fight; and siblings fight. Battles also occur between and among families, tribes, and nations. Lines of disagreement are drawn, and weapons are used, some material and others verbal. As the conflict increases, three important questions should be pondered:
1. What am I fighting for?
2. What am I fighting against?
3. What am I fighting with?
A few weeks ago, I finished reading The Killer Angels, a book about the Battle of Gettysburg. This epic, horrible battle was described in ping-pong sections going from the Union to the Confederate side, through the perspective of key leaders. The poignant, conflicted psychological battle within those in charge was captured by the author. The leaders on both sides, fatigued by prolonged war and grotesque loss of life, questioned the purpose of it all. No longer fighting for their homes, the Confederates were fighting against the Union; the Union was fighting to defeat the opposition of the Confederates, no matter where the battles occurred. The book clarified the artillery and strategies used by each side, and the resulting bloody mounds of dead soldiers and horses.
I’m no historian, but it seemed as though the Civil War began with clarity of purpose, with a focused answer, for each soldier on both sides, to the question of “what am I fighting for?” The reason for fighting was initially clear, and whatever weapons necessary were used or made. As the war drug on, the original clearness was obscured, and the fight shifted to being against the other side.
I wonder if something similar happens in less noteworthy battles. A fight for a noble cause might evolve into a focus against the enemy, no matter what the outcome. Instead of fighting for understanding in a relationship, the war shifts to fighting against the other person. And the weapons used also change. Loving words and rational thoughts in a “good, clean fight” might be replaced with name-calling and sneaky jabs.
Are you in a battle? What are you fighting for, against, and with? Would history tell your war story as a struggle for an honorable cause, or just a pointless, destructive skirmish?
Ancient Mystery’s Voice
“Fight for your brothers and sisters, your sons and your daughters, your spouses, and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14)
There is a lot of fighting in the Bible, especially in what is called the Old Testament. The God of Abraham demonstrated His warrior side frequently through the people of Israel. I have known many people who cherish the Bible but dislike studying the books of the Old Testament, wanting to focus on the New Testament.
From the book of Matthew through the last book, Revelation, the Bible focuses on the life of God in human form, manifested as Jesus. Some believers don’t see Jesus as a warrior because He was never described as using physical weapons. He even told Peter to put away his sword during a conflict in the Garden of Gethsemane.
I don’t see two different versions of God between the Old and New Testaments. What I see is a difference in weapon choice. Prior to the arrival of Jesus, the weapons were swords; Jesus used the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This weapon is available to believers through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, who brings to mind Bible verses to use in specific battles. These verses use the power of divine love, perfect truth, and sovereign justice to prevail over hatred, deception, and oppression.
For my colleagues and their battle, I offered a verse from the book of Nehemiah. This verse calls for believers to fight for the people they love. Nehemiah told the people to “Fight for your brothers and sisters, your sons and your daughters, your spouses, and your homes.” Their enemies were trying to destroy their wall-building efforts and discourage them; Nehemiah called them to fight for their families. Notice he didn’t say, “fight against those who are trying to hurt you.”
Ancient Mystery’s Voice compels us to fight, not to proclaim defeat without trying. The answer to the question, “What are you fighting for?” is transformed into, “Who are you fighting for?” The focus is on others, not on an abstraction or on self. When the battle comes, Ancient Mystery’s Voice proclaims our fight should be for people.
Living in Mystery
What does it mean to live in the mystery of being in the battle, fighting for, with, and against? It starts with knowing for what or whom you are fighting. Are you fighting for a cause, a person, or a principle? If your battle succeeds, what does victory look like? Who or what benefits? Beware battles that serve only yourself as these can easily turn destructive to others.
As the battle continues, it is important to be aware of when the fighting might shift to a war against. A marital battle can shift from fighting for your marriage to fighting against your spouse. Fighting for the marriage seeks resolution; fighting against your partner breeds division. It’s a subtle but critical difference. Wherever the conflict, focus your efforts on strengthening relationships with others, not making enemies.
As you fight, use good weapons and beware bad ones. Healthy weapons are words of love and logic, fighting for improved understanding and deeper wisdom. Fighting dirty uses name-calling and mistruth; whatever it takes to try to defeat the opponent. Whenever possible, fight with maturity and not the oppositional nature of a preschooler. Use love-based weapons instead of hate-based ones. Fight to grow what is good, supplanting what is not.
As an old mom to young parents, I implore you to think about the version of your child for whom you are fighting rather than the version you are fighting against. Focus your attention on feeding the desired behavior while starving the bad behavior. Fight this battle with natural consequences for misbehavior and plenty of praise for positive behavior.
Are you in a battle? Identify the focus of the battle, especially who will benefit from your fighting. Choose weapons that build others up, rather than destroy. Watch out for a shift in the battleground to fighting against and seeking conquest over enemies. Remember Your God is a warrior who fights for you and desires to equip you in His fight for other people.
Connecting with Mystery
Dear Lord of All Mystery, this week has been a battleground, with attacks coming from multiple directions. Help me understand what or for whom I am fighting. Grant me wisdom for the weapons I choose, seeking words of love, peace, and wisdom. Alert me if my fighting changes to a focus on destruction. Thank You for being my warrior God. Amen.
Notes from Dr. Mac
If you want to do your own investigation of any of the scriptures I use, try Bible Gateway.
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