Sunday’s Spiritual Quote
“There is no substitute for the spiritual, in war. Miracles must be wrought if victories are to be won, and to work miracles men’s hearts must…be afire with self-sacrificing love for each other, for their units, for their division, and for their country. If each man knows that all the officers and men in his division are animated with the same fiery zeal as he himself feels, unquenchable courage and unconquerable determination crush out fear, and death becomes preferable to defeat or dishonor.”[i]
Major General John A. Lejeune, USMC
from The Reminiscences of a Marine
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The true strength of the men and women of our armed forces is their faith in themselves and in others; faith in their skills, their abilities and their resources. They must have faith and courage to overcome adversity during the chaos of war and the constant struggles of military life. Faith is the bedrock of teamwork, and General Lejeune’s quote speaks to the power of esprit de corps, and one’s solidarity and devotion to the love of victory over defeat for themselves, their teammates, their unit, and their country. Therefore, it is one’s faith that becomes their secret weapon, and prayer is the secret battleground where victories are won.[ii]
Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see. Through faith we perceive that what is visible came into being through the invisible by faith.
Hebrews 11:1
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Footnote:
[i] The Reminiscences of a Marine. Major General John A. Lejeune. Philadelphia, PA: Dorrance and Company, 1930. Chapter Fifteen, Nancy, Marbache, Colombey – Les Belles. p. 307. Hathi Trust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org/). Web. Date Accessed on 10 Feb. 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015008300819
[ii] Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire – By James Montgomery (1771-1854) – Words written in 1818 at the request of Edward Bickersteth, who wanted them for his book, Treatise on Prayer. Montgomery called this “the most attractive hymn I ever wrote.”
Photo Credit:
Lt.Gen. John Archer Lejeune (1867-1942) – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune website – http://www.lejeune.marines.mil/
Related Articles:
- John A. Lejeune: True Soldier via Marine Corps Gazette – Professional Journal of U.S. Marines (mca-marines.org)
- Secret Weapon – Men Overcoming Chaos – Part One: Earning One’s Credentials and Part Two: Survival Depends on the Life Value You Choose - By Lt. Col. Dave Winecoff, USMC (Ret.), with Chuck Dean
- Naval Leadership: Voices of Experience by By Karel Montor – Section 94, Spiritual Welfare, page 466 – General Charles Krulak (31st Commandant of the Marine Corps) discusses General John A. Lejeune’s quote – http://books.google.com/books?id=GjAezYi6wvQC&pg=PA466&lpg=PA466&dq=%
- Quote of the Day By General John A. Lejeune (commandperformanceleadership.wordpress.com)
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
“We want to be in a situation under maximum pressure, maximum intensity, and maximum danger. When it’s shared with others, it provides a bond which is stronger than any tie that can exist.”
“Leaders know that complex issues resist elegant and easy solutions. They must consider the views of others and recognize that disagreement does not mean disrespect.”
“And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us, recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state, our success or failure in whatever office we hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions: First, were we truly men of courage…Second, were we truly men of judgment…Third, were we truly men of integrity…Finally, were we truly men of Dedication?”
“Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others, Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose good is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and pray for peace. We must march together, all out for God.”
“There are no great men. Just great challenges which ordinary men, out of necessity, are forced by circumstances to meet.”*
