The Uniform
I’ve served for over 20 years in the military, in the service of my country. I guess I have a lot of pride in this uniform. I value all the men and women I’ve served with, the battles I’ve actually fought, the things I’ve done, and the friends I’ve lost. These things have left many permanent marks on my soul, deep marks. To me, military service is a very personal and serious thing. I am a part of something great, and significant. I have sacrificed to serve noble ideas like freedom, and the value of human life. I am not the perfect person, not at all the perfect soldier, but I do my best because it matters. I wear my uniform with pride. It stands for something.
It makes me angry when someone insults this uniform. Worst of all is a person of the same uniform who treats it with contempt. How can there be anyone who has seen what I’ve seen and done what I have done, who treats his uniform as a cheap rag. Where is his pride? Where is his honour, where are the things we all stand for? Is he even one of us? When this person lives in such a way to bring shame to the uniform, it makes me want to walk up to him and demand that he immediately take it off. To stop calling himself a soldier. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about living a life worthy of the uniform. A life worthy of the sacrifices, of the values, or at least trying. That’s all we can really do is try. But if you are unwilling to at least try, then do not call yourself a soldier in my army. Respect what this uniform stands for or take it off. Because this matters.
I am a Christian. The military I serve is the army of the living God, the Kingdom, His Church. The uniform I wear is the name of Christ. The word Christian is the insignia on my chest. I am not perfect. But the name of Christ matters to me. If it does not consume your whole life, then take it off.
It makes me angry when someone insults this uniform. Worst of all is a person of the same uniform who treats it with contempt. How can there be anyone who has seen what I’ve seen and done what I have done, who treats his uniform as a cheap rag. Where is his pride? Where is his honour, where are the things we all stand for? Is he even one of us? When this person lives in such a way to bring shame to the uniform, it makes me want to walk up to him and demand that he immediately take it off. To stop calling himself a soldier. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about living a life worthy of the uniform. A life worthy of the sacrifices, of the values, or at least trying. That’s all we can really do is try. But if you are unwilling to at least try, then do not call yourself a soldier in my army. Respect what this uniform stands for or take it off. Because this matters.
I am a Christian. The military I serve is the army of the living God, the Kingdom, His Church. The uniform I wear is the name of Christ. The word Christian is the insignia on my chest. I am not perfect. But the name of Christ matters to me. If it does not consume your whole life, then take it off.
posted by Rob Petkau at 3:31 PM
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