Yes, Sir

Obedience.

The ability to sublimate our wishes and desires for those of another.

Usually someone of higher authority.

It is a very difficult-to-attain discipline, indeed.

And not taken lightly once you get it.

That's why I like soldiers, actually admire them, past and present.

American and foreign.

That's why I am thinking a lot about this as Veteran's Day approaches.

I am a fairly anti-war guy, for the record.

I think the American adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq are misdirected, for a number of reasons.

But I support our troops, like most Americans do.

Mostly because they are terrifically obedient.

Ultimately so, even to the point of risking their lives in order to follow such orders.

For that they have my undying respect.

Both for those that serve now, and for those that no longer serve.

Those that have served.

Including those who are legless.

I find obedience to be a dying form of discipline in our society these days.

It seems that in civil discourse, we Americans (and many others) like the idea of actually being disobedient.

Even to the point of being rebellious at times.

In fact, we have rewarded and glorified many in our society who have not followed orders.

Strange, when nationwide respect for our military is for those who do so well in exactly the opposite.

Maybe that's why the shootings yesterday seemed to be so strange, being on a military base.

That is where you would think you would find the most obedient of people, being soldiers and all.

In any case, I find that obedience is a difficult work for me.

It is hard to follow directions.

From authority of any type.

Having spent so much of my life being rebellious and disobedient, it is difficult to change one's colors.

To be obedient.

To follow orders.

Directions.

A plan and a strategy devised by another.

Or, if you will....Another.

So, as a Christian man, I am commanded now to treat all in authority with respect.

Sometimes in my past that has been plenty hard enough.

But, struggle as I might, I can always think of the obedient others as standard-bearers to follow.

Role models, if you will.

Those who have learned, have been trained, have been drilled into showing obedience.

In the face of the most trying of circumstances.

Absolutely the most trying.

As I learn to develop this character trait, I will think of those now on military bases around the world.

Of those overseas in very harsh environments, now that winter is just around the corner.

Standing at attention, arms cocked in salute for their authority figures.

Obedient, even unto death.

Such a dying art it is.

I thought of that as I drove over to the middle school today to pick up Joe from her work.

Watching those driving while talking on their cell phones.

Parking in the Handicapped parking spaces, when they obviously weren't so.

Even parking in the middle of the driveways, because they believed they were entitled.

Maybe that's the sign of new rebellion in our society.

Maybe that's the image that shows how far we have departed from the ability to obey.

To do what we expect our troops to do on a daily basis, around the world.

To be obedient.

To hold to the standard.

To keep the discipline that we all seemed so much to have lost around here.

Yes, Sir.