In A Glass Darkly (Sun Tzu 3:11) (1 Cor.13:11-12; Luke 9:18-22; John 9:35-41; Matt 4:1-11; Isaiah 42:18-25)

Sun Tzu has said (or passed along this proverb in his book),
That winning battles has to do a lot with how you look;
Not look as in appearance, but how look as with your eyes,
For how you look affects if you will fall, or hold, or rise.

He said, if you know self, and foe, you’ll win, and will not fear;
You will not be imperiled, risk the unforeseen, for clear
Will be your insight, you will know and deeply understand,
So you will not endangered be as you engage or stand.

But when we think about our case, our sight quite hampered lies,
For like a window is each soul – four panes of glass comprised;
One pane we see through clearly, and the others see within –
One-quarter everyone agrees what’s good and what is sin.

The second pane’s where we can see, but no one else can see;
It’s private space within our soul, where I can just being me;
I think my thoughts, and dream my dreams, and keep my counsel close;
Relationship with God is here – to curse, ignore, or toast.

The third pane is what others see and know, which I can’t see;
My boss, and wife, and children; parents’, siblings’ view of me;
And even strangers know some things, for they each have a past
Which they bring to new circumstance, so what they view is vast.

The final pane quite opaque is, which hides our hidden part;
We see a bit in things we say, or do, or in our art;
It is a great big mystery, for most part never seen;
And yet it is one-fourth of us – unknown and yet it’s been.

So, going back to read Sun Tzu, his thoughts along this line,
“Know self, and know your enemy, and you’ll make out just fine”;
Whatever can that mean for us, two panes of access ours –
When viewing self, or other folks, we stand like silent towers.

It’s more complex than that, he says, for often we don’t know,
That part about ourselves which in our daily walking shows;
We don’t look in the mirror much, or listen to the news
Which others could contribute to our self-assessment views.

And then of course some folks don’t know the world in which they live;
They don’t get out much now-a-days to take, or hold, or give;
They can’t assess the hearts of men (or women) so they think,
“My enemy has views like me – I’ll push him off the brink.”

The worst of course, are those quite blind to others and to self;
They should not lead the army, run a business, seek for wealth;
For they will losers be by far, like me in basketball –
I did not know the game, so was the laughing-stock of all.

A dojo is a place to learn – opponent is oneself –
Sure, others enter combat there, but here’s the real wealth –
To learn of self and others as you interact each day,
To shift this part that Sun Tzu says is vital to your way.

Then too, we’re known – four panes all clear – by God, who knows us all;
He also knows the other guy, and who will stand or fall;
Like bug that walks across the floor, with future, present, past,
To us we see all three at once – no doubt’s on outcome cast.

There’s wisdom that is of this world, and insights from our past;
There’s wisdom that is from above, good quality and vast;
God’s Spirit, when it has a chance to operate within,
Is part of all this knowing part when we turn back from sin.

Not sin as “goof-ups”, more the sin of turning backs on God,
And doing life “some better way” as we traverse this sod;
For we ignore this insight rich, and guidance from above,
Which present is in every heart and opens paths of love.

The battle of the universe is frame in which we live;
The winner in the end is known, so that a clue should give
To one and all, “You may win out this round, or maybe I,
But in the end it’s all a part of battle in the sky.

So, Sun Tzu’s point’s well taken, but it’s more complex I think –
“Know self and others you will win all battles in a blink;
Know one or other, you will win just half the time, he said,
Know neither in a battle – say your prayers – you’ll soon be dead.

But later on Sun Tzu suggests you use intelligence,
To ferret-out the info ’bout your foe and his defense,
Or methods of attacking you, so you can use your brain,
To beat him soundly on the field, or leave the field of pain.

Implied of course, is “Know yourself”, as person and as a team;
Do not assume that what you think, is now, will be, has been;
Check out your facts, then double check, make sure you understand,
The factors which impinge on war occurring in your land.

I guess I’d add, “Hey! Open up, there’s more to life ’round here;
For spiritual is base of life, and life that way makes clear
What’s going on – it raises up above our paltry ways,
Enriching us in all we do, and think, desire, and say.

Don’t be content to clobbered be in every battle fought;
Don’t walk imperiled on the field defeated when you ought
To be the winner of the day, engaged from victory,
Aware of self and enemy, risk-factors thus foreseen.

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