“Good Leadership” [Reflections on Sun Tsu's Art Of War #12-6]

Good leadership, most people see,
Is winning wars successfully;
But Sun Tsu says is more than that,
And spells it out – by adding that –

A follow up must also be
Included in one’s plans, you see,
If all you do is win your wars,
Attacks, and battles – what’s it for?

Colossal waste of time it is;
Stagnation of the nation’s biz;
Delay, and tarrying about,
Which leaves “Persisting turmoil”, doubt –

About how competent you are –
If no rewards are given, by far
You are a loser, out of luck;
If called again, you’ll find you’re stuck.

So, if the country will not gain
Through loss of life and increased pain,
Advantages are kicked aside;
It’s best you do not mobilize.

As well, if you can’t win the war,
Just ask what then is dying for?
Armed forces should not then be used,
Whatever else is your excuse.

And if commander in the field
Is not in crisis, danger – yield
Until position’s critical
The leader’s hypocritical.

How else would soldiers get that far?
Unless he’d stated “Needed are
All men of valor, strength, and grit,
To help win victory over it?”

For motivators aren’t just cash,
But larger themes of life – when asked
To help defend their turf, expand,
Men need to know what lies at hand.

If no rewards of any type
Like “Cash”, or “Glory”, “Set things right”,
Are on the table in exchange,
The army will at home remain.

Lord, as I flip all this around,
And ponder just what Sun Tsu found,
I hear Your use of “Follow-up”
Of evil’s loss – indeed! What luck!

For we get Kingdom-layer life –
Unmerited – above the strife,
As instant lands to live upon
In freedom, ’till all evil’s gone.

Not just for us, but family too –
All kith and kin – because of You,
And death You suffered on the cross
To leverage old Adam’s loss –

Into a better life for all –
Much better than life since the fall,
Chewed up by wars – by greed they’re fueled –
At peace at last; all things renewed.

The treasure we store up in heaven,
By eating bread by Kingdom leavened;
Enlightened by the light of life;
Salt-flavored as You conquer night.

And then we get to join the crew –
Help out as body-life in You,
To beat down evil, rescue folks
With lure of freedom from their yolks.

Translator calls that “Enterprise” –
Not as presented to our eyes
By business folks in quest for gain,
But by Your rhema-words – the same –

As we have longed for all our lives,
As we have sweated, toiled, and strived,
To bring about, by “Enterprise”,
Rewards from You – a nice surprise!

Lord, thanks for this piece of Sun Tsu,
Reflecting (unknown), now, on You;
He’s brought to foreground so much wealth
Of insight – turbo-boosting health.

Thanks Lord for this.

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