April 18th
Focus
My uncle Howard was in WW2. I think he was 19 or 20 at the time. He was a side gunner and a radio operator on a B-24. During combat the aircraft was hit and the orders were to bail. After he and another did so, it seems that whatever was wrong was under control and the command was reversed. But it was to late for Howard. He had parachuting down, landing in the country of Holland, but controlled at that time by the Germans.
I remember my Aunt Betty (his sister) told me that even though he lived on weeds and some potatoes he found, he was soon captured and taken to a prison camp. The way he was captured is interesting. When he was found a group of guys surrounded him with pitchforks and led him away.
During Christmas time the guys in the consecration camp took a large weed and made it into a Christmas Tree. They used metal can tops for ornaments. Well, this did not last long, because officers came in and tore their tree down.
As I mentioned, conditions were very bad and some of the prisoners were treated rather cruelly. However, I am told that my Uncle Howard volunteered for some kind of work patrol. That did the trick. He, after that, was treated much better than others. His focus was in helping not feeling sorry for himself.
I recall my folks receiving letters from him through the American Red Cross. When we received them they had been reduced in- size (photo copied) and some of the remarks had been scratched out so they were not readable.
Other stories have surfaced, but the one that meets my need for this piece of cyber turf has to do with the food. There was not much of it and many were sick, I read that some died. This might not have been true at the camp where my Uncle was, but at least I know that there were camps where the living conditions were not great. Lack of food, water, not having the medical care that was necessary led to illness and death for many. Men in such conditions were really up against it. The guys daily were all focuses on themselves and a possible outcome./escape
Now, let me focus on you, reading these lines. I recall a story that came out of a similar prison camps – It had to do with a pigeon. Seems that one of the prisoners found the bird - it had a broken wing. Of course the first impulse was to kill it. . But, instead of killing the little bird, a splint was made for the bird - the men took turns caring for the bird (even feeding it from their portions) What happen is the bottom line for you my dear reader.
The death rate dropped greatly. Why?? Because the men had a new direction. Call it focus! They switched from themselves to another - in this case a bird.
That's pretty cool, huh? Now, you may be in fear over something. But, may I remindyou, dear friend, that (1 John 4:18) we read: "There is no fear in love: perfect love casts out fear."
Let's pray
I ask Father, in the name of Jesus, that this one shift their attention (even their fretting and their care) from themselves. It is easy to think: Oh, poor me. But remind them that as they focus on the Lord and even on the needs of others, their condition will also change, like those soldiers. Yes, things could be a lot better, but they could also be a lot worse. May they shift their focus in Jesus' name.
AMEN.