“Transition Time” [Sun Tzu series 9 – 5 (= post 9 – 1A-E)]

A guy once said a soldier is just like a dollar bill;
It’s not that he is “loony” – it’s a different parallel –
You borrow all those dollars from the bank, or mom and dad;
And use them like an army, or one day you’ll wish you had.

For generals take care of troops, don’t let them wander off,
Deteriorate, or value lose, for army’s all he’s got
To beat the snot from other team, and bring the booty home;
It’s like that here, Sun Tzu says “Care for troops when leaving home”.

In case of soldiers, camp up high, not in the low and damp;
Keep rearmost troops right-flanked by hills, when you pick where to camp;
Avoid disease, and nourish them, it makes for victory;
Stay on the sunny side of hills, much better troops they’ll be.

Thus utilize resource around, the context of your life;
Land renders its assistance, reinforces for the fight;
Some folks view business as a fight, a conflict for the loot,
Which they take home to feather nests, win honor there, to boot.

I like the thought of stewardship of resource – cash or men;
I like the thought of no disease, good places to defend;
I think resources like the troops, and cash, to some extent,
Are similar, they value hold, and from them life is spent.

I wish folks tended cash like troops, spent time and thought and care,
Ensuring cash was fit for use, work-contexts well-prepared;
I wish folks knew they had to bring cash-armies home intact,
With treasure gained in danger-land, let that informed their tact.

I also think reverse is true – treat people with respect,
At least as much as cash on hand – when loss is there, regret;
But folks forget that people are more precious here than cash;
So much to learn as we grow up, and strive to build our stash.

Lord, thanks for this wee particle of thought about the men;
They are who we experience when they come home again;
PTSD, a scourge today in digi-wars we fight,
Destroys folks insides – looking good, but gone their inner light.

Are troops today like bills returned, there tours of duty run?
Is all that matters rank they’re called, and medals they have won?
Or is deflation factored in, worth-less today to us?
Lord, open up our hearts to care – and value troops as “us”.

Thanks Lord for this.

navigation