Old Glory seems to be under assault these days. Pundits everywhere opine on the reasons, but there is a simple cause really. When we shift our gaze from something above to things below, all we can see is brokenness, and all we can do is fight for tribal perspectives.
Regardless of what side of the aisle you're on--red, blue, independent, or undecided--there are men and women who put their lives on the line for principles that reside above political divides. Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends." That measure of sacrifice doesn't have a political, racial, or religious caveat. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are not laying down their lives for the sake of the party in power, the wealthy, the poor, the black or the white. They are making sacrifices for the sake of ideas delineated in a Constitution--principles--that we as American citizens subscribe to. While we bicker over terrestrial issues, our soldiers die for higher causes, overseas and here at home. Whether our country declared war in various conflicts or not, if you're a soldier over 45 in America, you've been involved in various conflicts for nearly 30 years and it has taken a toll. The latest statistics show that veterans are 20% more likely to commit suicide than non-veterans, with issues ranging from loss of purpose, isolation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and addiction.
"A nation that forgets its soldiers will not long be a nation." -- John Stuart Mill
At Mountains Move, we believe our servicemen and women deserve the best support in their journey to healing and recovery. We also believe that traditional methods of treatment involving anti-depressants and secular counseling fall short of addressing root problems for men and women who are physically or psychologically injured. Any effective treatment must address spiritual identity, which must be anchored in something above this terrestrial landscape with a purpose and calling that breathes new life into men and women. Sadly, secular solutions usually lead to temporary recoveries.
We prefer shock therapy.
Put someone on a horse in a high-alpine setting, surrounded by nothing but friends, mountains, wind, and trees and you can watch how they begin to see things differently. This is our version of "shock therapy", where we deliver encouragement, perspective, and a new outlook. Throw them on a snowmobile in snow-covered basins at 12,000 feet and share conversations about God, purpose, community, and new vistas. Take someone at the end of their rope--in a jeep to the end of the road--where they can see how small their problems really are in the grand scheme of it all. Journey with them and walk like our savior walked--with them, not ahead of them--and listen to their stories by a quiet fire in an alpine meadow.
This is true patriotism when you get down to it. Forget the polarizing arguments, political divides and endless partisan debates...join us in thanking the men and women who carried the burdens of our national will. They carried it for you and on this Veteran's day, you can help carry them. Put them on that horse. Sit with them in that meadow. Cry with them around the fire over the losses of their comrades. Celebrate their victories and help them move on from their losses.
Today, thank a vet for their service and join us as we celebrate our heroes. While you're at it, consider supporting Mountains Move as we endeavor to serve those who served us.