“And Now It’s Time” [Sun Tsu series 10 – 4]

And now it’s time to mix-and-match,
To factors learn, and tactics hatch;
Not all the factors known are here,
But mixing these makes some things clear.

This is Commander’s job, of course,
The care and keeping of His force
Is what He mainly has to do,
When stepping up to lead his crew.

He cannot view as light, this task;
Must carefully consider past,
And present, future – how it fits
Into the larger scheme of it.

Defeat is down the road from here
If each of six parts is not clear
And certain it is all addressed,
And only done when done with zest.

So six parts are up front right here –
An estimate of strength that’s clear;
Authority held in respect;
Defective training stronger gets.

Is anger held within its banks?
Is discipline observed by ranks?
Best troopers picked to lead the charge
Within a context sometimes hard?

Six contexts need attention too –
Quite passable? Needs speed to view;
Will you get hung up, no retreat?
Or bogged right down, and standoff meet?

Will narrow be the battleground?
Precipitous the heights around?
Is foe quite distant to your place?
These six-on-six define your case.

That’s thirty-six, if just one part
Is out of place right at the start,
Or can emerge as time goes past –
That’s why best thought must happen fast.

I’m happy to leave this with You –
Computing that, I cannot do;
We all have roles here in the scene,
And that’s not mine – has never been.

“Trust God alone and never man”;
“Love people”, as Christ said we can
In Him, for people aren’t the foe,
But evil one – which we should know.

Lord, now I see a little bit –
Your role in this – from where I sit,
I feel secure in knowing this –
Helps to deliver Heaven’s kiss.

Thanks Lord for this.

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