My life over the last 14 days has been incredible.
In that span of time, I have experienced once again the joy of being among friends, the peace of the Battlefield and hiked the Longstreet Counter march, and the path of the 44 Alabama as it attacked Devils Den. I have seen the quizzical looks on friends faces, as we discussed the battle, or what the common soldier must have been thinking during both times.
I have seen the incredible changes at GBNMP that are occurring. The amount of tree cutting has reopened the lines of sight that would have been there now 144 years ago….. And the new Visitor Center appears to be coming to completion, ready for the opening in April of 2008. 145 years after the battle.
But in the span of 48 hours my life changed. Irrevocably. First of all the transmission on my car, self destructed. No known cause, no sign of potential problems just exploded. Then the following Monday, I lost my job….
Then in the span of about the same time, my life took another sudden turned. And all the heartache, frustration, pain, anger, and tears, just faded from view…
Why write about this here? What does this have to do with the Obsession? Nothing, and everything……… How so you ask?
It has nothing to do with as it occurred here, in the 21 century.. Buttttt as I thought about the sudden changes the other way, the help that has popped up from family, and other relationships, some old some new, I thought about the common soldier of the period..
During the Civil War, the soldiers life in a number of cases was a bit like life now. Peace, the quietness of friends and their presence around a camp fire.
Then in time less then what I experience, his life is turned upside down. By circumstances out of his control.. He is wounded, loses a friend in battle, a dear John letter from home, he gets sick…
And probably some what strangely for you the reader, I find myself nodding my head yes, and thinking how did they get through these horrible time.
They did with hands that were known. Their own, folded in prayer before an attack, or helping buddy off the field……. They survived and in some cases even flourished in this environment… If they can do it among all the death, all the horror, all the blood shed and all the pain.. Then I certainly can survive my ordeal.
Much like they did. Through prayer, the help of good friends and even strangers and helped by them off the battlefield of life.
Who says there is nothing to learn from the ACW?
I just did.
Jim
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