Marine Corps Boot Camp Graduation
Posted: November 27, 2008 - 17:03 CT
We've just returned from Justin's (our youngest son) graduation from Marine Boot Camp in San Diego. On November 21, our country welcomed 589 new marines, dedicated to the core values of honor, courage and commitment. The first thing you notice upon meeting these newest marines and their instructors, is the commitment to ethical and moral principles, and to be Semper Fidelis (always faithful) to God.
What a stark contrast with the attitude of our modern culture, which tends to reject most authority and holds that all moral truths are relative. Much of this starts with our leaders. I think it no coincidence that massive corruption in our federal government is greatly increasing at a time that less than 25% of our legislature have served in a branch of the military (a generation ago, it was over half). Many of those who served, such as John "our troops are a bunch of murderers and rapists" Murtha and John "get an education or you'll end up in Iraq" Kerry, have long since abandoned the core values of the military branches.
We can know, however, in these uncertain times, that our sovereign God is on the throne working everything for good for those who love Him. We also know that He uses certain people, who are faithful to Him, to accomplish His good and perfect will. I was greatly encouraged to meet several of them the past few days.
On a personal note, the transformation in our son over the past thirteen weeks was amazing. I wrote down a few passages from the prophet Isaiah on his "going away" card. On the first day at camp, his platoon commander took up and disposed of all civilian articles, including his card. Unknown to me, he has copied these verses onto a piece of scrap paper and placed it in his wallet, so he was able to carry it with him at all times. This weekend, he spoke in front of our Sunday School class and credited this Scripture with helping him through the toughest times, when it would have been much easier to give up, particularly during the 54 hour crucible.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31)
Note: I've uploaded several pages of pics from the San Diego MCRD Graduation event to the photo section.