Chapter Thirteen: Why Not Join the Military?

I took my camping gear that I had stored at a friends garage and pitched a tent next to one of the local freeways. Then I tried to figure out what I'd do next. My best friend suggested that I join the military. I thought he was nuts. I had always been one to butt heads with authority and figured pacifism was usually the best route to go in life. But the more I thought about it the more it seemed that a stint with the military would be my best option. I'd be off the streets, have an income and have a purpose. Even though I thought the war in Iraq was a monumental mistake I'd always believed that the draft should be imposed anytime our government starts preaching war. The first to be drafted can be the children of the President and the members of Congress. I kinda think our government would be much less enthusiastic about war mongering if it was the lives of the family members our own supposed representatives that were on the line. I had been saddened time and again reading about the soldiers being sent over seas to "fight for our country" only to be sent home injured, maimed or in a pine box back to devastated love ones. I thought I could pitch a story to newspapers about my attempt to join the service in hopes of encouraging others to sign up. It's a tragedy that war vets have to be repeatedly redeployed to the front until they're burned out or worse. They're human beings, not expendable commodities like our country's treatment of them would suggest.





So at age 41 I decided that I would get myself in the best shape of my life. I planned on riding my bike throughout Orange and L.A. counties for three months or so until the first of the year. Then I'd try to sell myself to a recruiter who was willing to take a chance on someone six years past the maximum sign up age. At least I'd be in terrific shape by then, and if I failed to enlist then I'd just go on from there to wherever the winding road of life would lead me. I might of made one huge mistake, though, depending on your faith or lack thereof. Considering my pacifism I decided I'd sign up as a non-combatant. I still, however, said a prayer to God, asking him to show me a sign to indicate whether or not my decision was alright with him. You know the saying "Careful what you ask for"? How true. It was about 10 days after that prayer that I think I got my answer.



Next up: Prayer Answered