For this Sunday, May 28th, the focus for our
meditation will be on Honor. Lieutenant Colonel James “Nick” Rowe was a
U.S. Army Special Forces officer who was one of only 34 military personnel to
escape captivity during the Vietnam war.
Held in deplorable conditions and continually subjected to physical and
psychological abuse, his indomitable spirit was never broken by his captors. He endured captivity for five years and had
successfully duped the Viet Cong into believing he was a mere engineer assigned
to build bridges and other infrastructure improvements for local villages. In truth, he was a West Point Academy
graduate and Green Beret well trained in multiple disciplines including
intelligence work. After five years of
refusing to cooperate, his captors received information researched by anti-war
groups in the U.S. revealing his true background. Incensed by his deception, the Viet Cong were
taking Nick to another location for execution when he miraculously managed to
escape and was rescued by a U.S. Army helicopter. During his captivity Nick wrote the following
poem:
To bargain for this life of
mine when the price you ask
Requires of me to verify a lie
And sell my Honor short,
Makes clear the choice between
the two;
A life with Honor, a
life without;
With me, you see, life without Honor
is no life at all.
Nick continued to live his life with Honor. Having survived five
years as a prisoner of war, Nick ultimately lost his life years later when
assigned to Manila as a military liaison officer where he was assassinated by
terrorists. The manner in which he
conducted himself served as an inspiration for anyone who ever came in contact
with him and learned his story. This
week as we commemorate the Memorial Day holiday and our remembrance of those
whose lives were lost in the line of duty let us pause to think how best to Honor their sacrifice. May we consider in what way do our words and
actions bring Honor to ourselves,
others we care about and our country?
Let us be inspired to always conduct ourselves with Honor and in raising ourselves up may we collectively elevate this
great nation.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the
energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills
this nation. As we perform our
meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of
the light we create. Just as before,
begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost
impossible to look directly at it. Raise
this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down
to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch
of our country. From shore to shore and
border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense
light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country
and the people who live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in
your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us,
and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I Honor those who have made sacrifices
for others? How does it feel in my body when I recognize the importance
of living with Honor in all that I
do? Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express
thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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