Keep Moving Forward

It was 23 July 2003, 0730 hours, 120 degrees, Ar Ramadi, Iraq. It was just 4 months into the war. Captain Joshua Byers who was the commander of Fox Company in the 3rd ACR (Armor Calvary Regiment) was leading a convoy that had just left their base camp. On the other side of the world Josh’s parents were boarding a plane in Tokyo, Japan bound for Atlanta, Georgia. Josh’s two brothers, Milam and Jared were anticipating their arrival. It was to be a day of celebration, not only for their mother’s 50th birthday but also for Milam and Ashley’s engagement just 2 days prior. Without warning, a blast erupted in the Iraqi desert shaking the ground for miles. It would soon be felt by an unsuspecting family a world away. One confirmed KIA (killed in action), 2 others critically injured. A knock at the door, 2 men in Army Class A uniforms. They could only be there for one reason. A phone call. A husband, son, brother, friend, commander and soldier had been taken in the blast. This is our story. This is a hero’s story. From Chapter 1: We need more heroes. Heroes help shape our lives. Heroes help clarify our values. Heroes help define our character. I believe we all need a mentor. We all need a model to mold our lives so we can accomplish the goals we set in our lives. We are all born with the deep desire in our souls to fulfill a purpose, whatever that looks like individually to each of us. I have experienced many people who have visited me in my office to share that they have a little happiness, a little joy, a little peace, but that something is missing somewhere deep inside their souls. And in most cases, I have found that most folks are not finding that purpose Almighty God has put inside of them and they keep running in many directions instead of the right way to really plant that fulfilled, peaceful feeling one has when one’s purpose is being pursued. I have talked to some who have already retired and still have not settled in their hearts and souls what has been missing for so many years. They admittedly share that, even though on the surface it seemed they were truly happy, they never have had the satisfaction deep down in their souls as they lay down at night of really being fulfilled in their goals for life. From Chapter 11: I discovered some time ago that this life really doesn’t have much to offer us. When I served as pastor of one of our church starts several years ago, I met a middle-aged man who had everything one could ask for materially. He lived in a beautiful home with furnishings that you were almost afraid to touch. He drove luxury cars and played golf often at his fancy country club. He asked me out to lunch one day, and he told me of his success over the years. As I got to know him better, I found myself feeling really sorry for him, as his life was just one business deal after another. He never seemed at ease because it was never enough. He didn’t talk about how great it was to love and give love to his family and friends. When I challenged him about being too busy for family time he just mumbled that they would have to understand, as there is money out there to be made. He tried his best to portray an intelligent, brilliant achiever in how to get rich. He was smart and very successful in the business world, but he just didn’t get it. Life is a series of ups and downs and if we focus on the wrong thing, it is like getting on a merry-go-round, then getting off at the same place where you got on. We haven’t made any progress in real life but have managed to convince ourselves that we are really moving. The more I contemplated on those last words of a soldier who died to protect our freedom, the more I began to “get it.” We desperately need to move forward in pursuing the challenges of life that have meaning. In this true story of our son, the immediate reaction to keep moving forward actually saved two other lives. It is in this very similar battle that we find ourselves. No matter what circumstance you find yourself in life, you need desperately to make the right decision because there are many lives involved especially your very own. Our immediate reaction is to slam on the brakes in life when something critical happens to us – a child’s sickness, marital problems, bad news from the doctor about us or our spouse or a loved one, overdrawn funds with no hope of help, the death of someone you loved more than life – we just have the tremendous urge to slam on the brakes of who we are as individuals. We get trapped in a corner emotionally and we feel like there is nowhere to turn. Life is too difficult to face and I can’t do it anymore. And even though there are critical issues that lie ahead of us, people’s lives are hanging in the balance (including our own), we just want to slam on the brakes with our emotions and shut completely down hoping that this will all just go away. We have got to “keep moving forward” even though that involves making some hard decisions but the consequences are so huge that it is a matter of life or death.