Life's Madness In the Trenches

Life's madness is that we keep trenching through time looking for a passageway
one foot at a time with our shovels and picks.  All we had to do was lift
ourselves up out of the trench and go our way but it seemed easier to do the
task at hand.  We are so serious!

Do you have any favorite trench stories?  My favorite is from "Stories for the Heart"
compiled by Alice Gray.  An author unknown shared the following story of courage in
the chapter on compassion.  It is paraphrased in my own words below.

Did you read about the thick of battle in World War I when the trenches of
Germans and Americans were separated by a barb wire fence.  There was shelling
and constant battles to cross over.  This was a snowy, cold day early in December
of 1917.

A German soldier had jumped out of the trench to fire down on the Americans.
He was gunned down and fell over the barb wire.  For the longest time he
called out for anyone to help him to no avail.  Finally, the American fire
stopped and a lone soldier crawled toward him amidst the German fire trying
to pick him off.  As he neared the German solder the fire stopped.  The American
stood up and helped the wounded soldier off the barb wire.  He crossed over
to the German trench and helped him down to his own men.

As he turned to go back, he felt a hand on his shoulder.  A German officer
pulled an iron cross off his uniform and gave it to him.  It was the highest
award given a German soldier for meritorious duty in battle.  The American
returned in silence to the American trench -- no one fired on him and peace
ensued for the breadth of the rescue.  The fighting and shelling resumed.  For
one moment the bravery and unselfish behavior of one soldier touched them all.

un-paraphase

May we all find the courage to lift out of the trench especially to help those
around us caught up in the spectra of life.