Taking the Jump: The Impact of Life’s Challenges

I wish I could say I’ve never had hard times. And I’d bet good money that all of us wish we could say that.

But it’s not the good times, or the tranquil times that grew me. It’s the days when it looked to me like my life had jumped the tracks and my world had become a train wreck.

I’m thinking of the days after I came back from the Gulf War. I picked up my kids for a visit. I was fully intending to complete the visit, fly back to Germany, process out, and go to my next assignment.

Instead, I found myself in a world rocked by saving my kids from an abusive situation. I had almost no money. I had a chain of command that left a lot to be desired. And I was wondering what was next. I hinted at those days a little in my book, The Cross and the Badge. But in one of my future novels, Tales from the NCO Club, I’ll talk about it through my fictional character, Will Diaz.

In a nutshell, I stood on the edge of forever and had to find the courage to jump. Oh, I could have backed off. Sure, I could have. I could have pretended nothing had happened and stuck to my plan.

And what would it have done if I had?

Here’s a list:

• I’d have left the kids in an abusive relationship – one that might have killed them!
• I’d never have made my peace with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and become a Christian.
• I’d never have met this incredible woman named Julie, who, except for Salvation, is the greatest gift in my life.
• I’d never have become the man I am today. Before I was adrift and lost. Now, I’m seated in the Captain’s Chair of my life. And now I’ve got a better destination ahead and a star to steer by.
• I’d never have dared to call myself a writer.
• I’d never developed a backbone.
• I’d have continued to be a victim in the world.
• I’d have lost all respect for myself as a man.
• You wouldn’t be reading this!

I didn’t sit down and create a Pros vs Cons breakdown of the situation. I knew in an instant that I’d walked out of one war and into another. It was a war with high stakes; one I didn’t dare lose.

And before it was all over, I’d left the Army I loved and became a single parent. I found myself in a world where I felt like an alien visitor.

It took me a bit to realize that the world wasn’t alien. It was the same old world. It hadn’t changed.

I had.

I was the alien. The man who left years before wasn’t the man who came back.

What came back was a warrior who drew a line and said this far and no further. In fact, I’m taking back lost ground. The old Christian song that has the line “I went to the enemy’s camp, and I took back what belongs to me” became my anthem.

The hard times gave me the will to fight. To gamble it all.

The decision was made in less than a second.

I jumped.

I’d learned Faith!

Hebrews 11:1!