THE MARRIED LIFE
My grandfather used to tell me stories of his experiences during World War I, when he was a lieutenant in the Army stationed in France.
His eyes would tear up when he told me of a time when he was on the front lines and was tasked with leading a regiment of over 3,000 men to a place where they would settle in reserve for an attack. He went ahead of the troops, alone in enemy territory, to scout out the area where they were to assemble. He found a route he thought would work.
By the time the troops arrived, however, it was night, pitch black, and had been pouring rain all day. The men were wet, tired, and exhausted. As he prepared to lead the men, he could no longer see the path he had staked out in the daylight. He became lost and disoriented, with enemy troops in the forest.
“I was scared to death, and never prayed so hard in my life,” Grandpa said.
But then, by the light of artillery fire, he saw an opening ahead. It wasn’t the path he had scouted out earlier that day, but he followed where the light shone, and it eventually led to their position.
In the history of his regiment’s journal it says, “Accordingly, at 9:00 at night, as black as coal and rain almost driving us mad, we pulled out in single file through heavy mud, through paths in the thick woods, each man touching the man in front of him lest he get lost. We wondered who acted as guide for the leading element. He either went over this route several times during the day, or else he was a supernatural being.”
Grandpa always said he was no supernatural being! He believes God answered his prayers and showed him the way to go.
“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23: 3-4)
We can trust that even in our darkest hours God hears our prayers. Even when the path is not clear he guides our steps.
In hindsight, Grandpa said the darkness helped hide the troops from their enemies who were all around them. And the light from artillery fire showed him a path different from what he had found earlier. Often the path the Good Sheperd leads us to is different from the path we would have chosen ourselves.
Sometimes problems we face can seem so big they paralyze us, but there is always something, however small, that we can do. Our prayers are needed. Our help is needed. What I learned from my grandfather is to pray and act.
Several years ago, we had a single friend named Cliff who was nearing the end of his life, suffering from advanced cancer. He didn’t want to spend his final months alone, and asked if he could live with us. I told Cliff I’d make a deal with him. If he promised to pray for our son, who was going through adolescent struggles, he would be welcome in our home. He shook my hand and said, in all seriousness, “Deal.” He kept his end of the bargain, and we did our best to keep ours.
Cliff was with us for five months before he died. Many people helped Cliff during that time, by visiting, calling, praying with him, and helping with his finances and funeral arrangements. We could not meet all of Cliff’s needs, but we could do something. Many others did something too, and Cliff was blessed in the most difficult of circumstances.
Many times, we don’t have the solution to problems, but we can pray and see what we can do to help the situation. Empowered by the Holy Spirit we can bring light to the battlefields we encounter. Pray and act.
Let us join Pope Francis in asking for Our Lady’ intercession: “This is a dark hour, Mother. In this dark hour, we look to you, and in the light of your countenance we entrust ourselves and our problems to your maternal Heart, which knows our anxieties and fears. How great was your concern when there was no place for Jesus at the inn!”
