The Impact of Casting Vision

Catch up time.  Stay tuned for updates galore.  This one I started 2 weeks ago.  I'm such a procrastinator.

Been watching "Band of Brothers" for the past week with Jeff and Trish...2 episodes each night.  It's about the 506 parachute infantry regiment, "Easy Company," who fought in WWII.  When the first date rolled across the screen...D-day, June 6, 1944...I realized my grandmother was 23 when that happened (my age).  And she got married that year (I think, or maybe it was 1943).  Thankfully my grandfather (in the navy) didn't have to go to war because he was one of very few men who could type.  So they put him in a recruiting office in Chattanooga, where he met a fiery girl named Robbie, my grandmother, who worked across the street.

*I love these pictures below.  My grandfather died before I was born, but I can't wait to meet him someday*

I can't imagine what it was like to live through this kind of war or even to live in America during that time. But I couldn't stop thinking about the impact of this "band of brothers."  They were put on the front lines of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, among others.  Men in command of the war were confident in their ability so they assigned them to some of the most difficult missions. What was the key to their success in the midst of a stressful, seemingly hopeless war?

Of course there were many things, but two have really stuck with me:  good training and leadership.  Jeff, Trish, and I watched every possible "extra" on the DVD, including the interviews of the actual men of Easy Company.  Men kept reiterating the fact that they were so well-trained and were led by exceptional officers.

Easy Company was trained for 2 years before they went to Europe.  They endured grueling marches and exercises, one specifically to Atlanta, GA that was 118 miles.  I mean, RIDICULOUS stuff.  But they were disciplined like no other regiment.  And maybe that helped them endure the things in Europe they couldn't have fathomed.

The leaders that stood out were those who were selfless and who led by example.  They instilled bravery and confidence in the men.  Major Winters (who I found out just died on January 2 of this year at the age of 92) was the most inspiring.  Everyone loved him - for his competency, humility, quick decisions, selflessness, and care for his men.

As a leader, Winters knew it wasn't about him.  He knew it was about equipping his men to do the mission they were called to do.  Because of the vision casted by their training and leadership, the men were confident and determined to complete their tasks.  And through these common experiences, a bond was formed that is impossible to imagine.

In starting Young Life in Siliguri, I know God isn't calling me to tell every teenager here about Jesus.  But he's calling me to cast that vision to workers here.  To train, to lead, to show by example.  And even more than hearing my voice, my desire is that these future Young Life leaders would here God's voice saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21)

We're having our 2nd leader meeting next Monday.  I'll be sharing the story of Luke 5, where 4 men lower their friend thru a roof because they're so desperate for him to meet Jesus.  Pray that the Word will pierce our hearts and spur us on to love the teenagers of India like this.  Pray for this vision to take root in our hearts.  God is already bonding our hearts together, as a result of His faithfulness and amazing work already taking place.  I'm thankful this bond is eternal and centered on Someone who is never-changing and ever faithful.