Battle Stations

(man that's a really big boat)

Our family recently toured the USS North Carolina, a battleship from World War II docked in Wilmington, North Carolina. We were taken aback by the size of the ship, the size of the rotating 16-inch gun turrets, and the size of the 2,200 member crew needed to keep this massive ship running. Working in shifts these brave men protected air craft carriers, supported amphibious landings and met the basic needs of their crewmates for food, water and some semblance of rest.

The crews’ quarters, rows of metal bunks four and five high, are scattered throughout the ship, always close to where the sailors worked, in case the cry of “battle stations” would come. Everything was close at hand so the response could be immediate.

Sometimes the cry of “battle stations’ comes in our own life. An important choice between right and wrong suddenly appears in front of you. A friend says, “Can we talk for a minute?” A co-worker experiences a difficult time in their life. What do we choose? What do we say? How do we help? Are we prepared?

The best way to answer “Yes” to each of these questions is to have the Word of God close at hand. Not just a Bible sitting on the desk or the nightstand, but written on our hearts and minds so the response can be immediate.

I want to find a way to be more prepared. How about you?

Brian

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