Christmas Truce of 1914 (True Story)

This story is a true Christmas Miracle that happened nearly a century ago: Christmas 1914.

It was during World War I, and there was a long trench with Germans and Austrians on one side and French and British on the other. It was cold, muddy and miserable.

While the men had been there for many months and the nights were long and lit by gunfire that continued from the daytime, something different happened...

... the night of Christmas Eve.

Sporadically at first, then widespread, over 100,000 soldiers ceased fire across the Western Front, despite orders from the commanders back home.

In some parts, the enemies had launched Christmas greetings and small gifts across the wasteland between the lines - known as "No man's land." 

Some reported that at the sound of the church bells in the night proclaiming Christmas was the mark of complete cease fire.

With no orders or any request or agreement, for over 100,000 soldiers on the front line on both sides - not a shot was fired.

Christmas carols could be heard from the trenches.

Both sides agreed to completely cease fire to allow each other to go out and retrieve their dead and wounded.

In several places, both sides put aside their differences and pooled manpower to dig graves together.


Then, across the muddy, devastated wasteland of no man's land, soldiers on both sides took up white flags and left the trenches, guns left behind. 

Hand shakes of truce were quickly followed by exchanges in food and drink, as well as alcohol and cigarettes. 

Soldiers exchanged Christmas carols with the "enemy."

Both sides remarked in letters home how the words were strange but they KNEW the melody that the other side had sung... 

 

The Germans started decorating their trenches.

Soon both sides worked together to erect a Christmas tree.

Up and down the Western Front, friendly games of soldiers showed their "enemy" pictures from home and traded souvenirs.

 Football (soccer) games were launched Christmas day, as well as boxing matches between the opposing sides of the war.

In the spirit of peace and camaraderie, a British soldier, who was a barber back home, gave German soldiers free haircuts in the open field between the lines.

In some places, a camaraderie had formed so strong across the lines that no shots were fired until after New Year's Day.

In many cases, the commanders back home, who were irate at this impromptu truce and "fraternizing with the enemy" decided upon by lowly soldiers in the trenches, had to pull all the men back from the front lines and replace them with fresh troops and strict orders to fire on the enemy.

None knew how this truce started. Research years later uncovered requests for a temporary truce from Pope Benedict XV ("at least upon the night the angels sang"), which were promptly rebuffed by commanders on both sides, as well as Peace initiatives between British women and those in Germany and Austria.

But my guess is that the true Prince of Peace walked the no man's land between the lines of the Western Front that night. No orders were given, no decisions were made ahead of time. It just happend...

Merry Christmas

Peace on Earth

~ ESA

Christmas Peace (True Story)

On this Christmas morning, I want to share a story of a true Christmas Miracle that happened nearly a century ago: Christmas 1914.

It was during World War I, and there was a long trench with Germans and Austrians on one side and French and British on the other. It was cold, muddy and miserable. While the men had been there for many months and the nights were long and lit by gunfire that continued from the daytime, something different happened the night of Christmas Eve.

Sporadically at first and then widespread, over 100,000 soldiers ceased fire across the Western Front, despite orders from the commanders back home. In some parts, the enemies had launched Christmas greetings and small gifts across the wasteland between the lines - known as "No man's land."

Some reported that at the sound of the church bells in the night proclaiming Christmas was the mark of complete cease fire. With no orders or any request or agreement, for over 100,000 soldiers on the front line on both sides - not a shot was fired. Christmas carols could be heard from the trenches.

Both sides agreed to completely cease fire to allow each other to go out and retrieve their dead and wounded. In several places, both sides put aside their differences and pooled manpower to dig graves together.

Then, across the muddy, devastated wasteland of no man's land, soldiers on both sides took up white flags and left the trenches, guns left behind.

Hand shakes of truce were quickly followed by exchanges in food and drink, as well as alcohol and cigarettes.

Soldiers exchanged Christmas carols with the "enemy." Both sides remarked in letters home how the words were strange but they KNEW the melody that the other side had sung...

 The Germans started decorating their trenches.

Soon both sides  worked together to erect a Christmas tree.

Up and down the Western Front, friendly games of football (soccer) were launched Christmas day, and soldiers showed their "enemy" pictures from home and traded souvenirs. There was even a report of a British soldier (a barber back home) giving a German soldier a haircut in the open field.

In some places, a camaraderie had formed so strong across the lines that no shots were fired until after New Year's Day. In many cases, the commanders back home, who were irate at this impromptu truce and "fraternizing with the enemy" decided upon by lowly soldiers in the trenches, had to pull all the men back from the front lines and replace them with fresh troops and strict orders to fire on the enemy.

None knew how this truce started. Research years later uncovered requests for a temporary truce from Pope Benedict XV ("at least upon the night the angels sang"), which were promptly rebuffed by commanders on both sides, as well as Peace initiatives between British women and those in Germany and Austria.

But my guess is that the true Prince of Peace walked the no man's land between the lines of the Western Front that night. No orders were given, no decisions were made ahead of time. It just happend...

Merry Christmas

Peace on Earth

~ ESA

Fears to Cheers

The death of Osama bin Laden has been on the news of late and a radio station I listen to even had a discussion on what our reaction should be. I had mixed feelings and searched through some tweets and blog posts to see what others thought. Some I would like to share:

RT @NiraMe: "Mommy, why are they celebrating someone being killed?"

That hit me hard with the truth behind it. When the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell, the media showed some parts of the world celebrating the death of Americans, whom they considered the enemy. We shook our heads at their disgraceful behavior. Why do some Americans now behave the same way, when our declared enemy falls? Are we any different?

I think my feelings are best reflected by these words, which many have posted around the net:

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. ~Jessica Dovey

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

My own words cannot outshine
The famous quotes
In the above lines

- ESA

Enemy Action

I believe there are fallen angels that delight in misleading human souls away from God's Grace. But I also believe there is much laid at the adversary's feet that ... well, let's just say it's undeserved credit.

I remember a silly custom my grandmother tried - and failed - to pass on to my generation. If you spilled the salt or knocked over the salt shaker, you had to scoop salt up with your right hand and throw it over your left shoulder. Why? Because the devil, sitting on your left shoulder, made you spill the salt, so you hit him in the eye with it.

While that is just a silly little superstition, there are many things people will blame on the adversary. While interference does happen, it is not anywhere near the regularity some accuse. "The devil made me do it" has become a common phrase today, included with some humor. But many still wholeheartedly believe that every little wrong they do is because of the adversary.

Please, people take some credit for your own actions and inactions! Blaming the adversary on our own shortcomings leaves us wide open to two grave issues.

First, we do not take responsibility for our own actions and continue to do as we have done, never learning nor correcting the error of our ways. Saying "the devil made me do it" enables people to alleviate themselves of both the blame and the responsibility.

Second, we give the adversary more power over our lives. When we believe that we can be swayed to the adversary's will, that belief opens a door we do not want opened. We become more readily swayed and, coupled with not accepting the responsibility, open ourselves to further mischief and malevolent behaviors.

When I fail, I can be tempted to say, "Ah, the devil's messing with my life." But after some thought, I take greater delight shouting out, "Heck, I'm not going to give that bitch the credit. I'm going to fix it and move on!" :D

Take responsibility
For our thoughts
For our actions

- ESA

Understanding the Difference

I want to share something I've learned with my readers, an understanding I came to realize. There are times, when I fail to reach a goal, falter in my steps or otherwise not perform as I should. Once I realize my error, one of two things can happen:

+ + +

I am repulsed by the act or failure to act on my part. I sincerely regret what I have done, see where I have gone wrong, and try to learn HOW to do it correctly. Then I am motivated to be stronger and do it right the next time. This way, I am enabled to learn from the mistake and grow.

Then there is a much darker path my head and heart can go....

I look at my failures and truly hate myself, my life, my being, my spirit, and my soul. I am filled with self-loathing, self-revulsion, and self-hatred; I am repulsed by what I see and can actually embrace the ideas that I am not worthy of another chance and that even God could not love me. I stick my head in the proverbial sand and hide - from myself, from what I have done, from God.

This is what will poison us from within. This kind of self-revulsion - not for the wrong we have done but to hate our very selves to the point where we cut God from our lives. We do not give ourselves the chance to seek forgiveness. We do not yearn for the opportunity to try again, to do better. We are just stuck in a rut, hating ourselves.

This hate can lead to other forms of self-infliction ~ cutting, self-mutilation, alcohol and drug abuse, as they are seen as an escape from this pain. Even worse, when we cannot love ourselves, we choke off our ability to love one another; those around us suffer too.

+ + +

My understanding came when I had the rare opportunity to feel both of these side-by-side. First I felt the darker emotions, and started to hide from God. Then I somehow realized what I was doing and felt penitent for letting myself get caught by such dark emotions and turning away from God, and I deeply desired to correct that.

Side-by-side, it become so clear. One helps you to be sincerely sorry, learn from it, and lifts you up to try again. The other tries to mire you down with self-loathing and helps you to hide from God's Loving heart.

Now I know the difference and strive to not only learn, but pass on what I know.

- ESA

Shredding the Bride's Gown

Today I read yet another statement from a religious group who claimed to know how to identify a false religion. Then they proceeded to list all that differed from their particular flavor. That alone stirred something very deep within me that wants to weep and rave and shout all at once!

The enemy doesn't have to fight against those who stand for God. We fight each other and the enemy just stands on the sidelines LAUGHING at us!!! Why can no one see this????

Why do so many continue to stand up and claim that their belief is the one true belief and all that follows another are doomed? Can they not see that by claiming this they expose one of the REAL ways they fail?

Those that are true to the calling:

• Teach that we should reach out to one another in Love - ALL people, including those who do not believe as we believe and even those who hate and persecute us.

• Do not ostracize, do not play favorites, do not hold themselves or their religion above others.

• Encourage people to reach out and help one another, to work collectively toward a greater good, to be the example.

• Do not do any work, good deed or act for their own benefit or the benefit of their group, but understands that ideally one performs this unseen or as unknown as possible and lets the good of that stand on its own with no name attached.

• Does not threaten, bully, scare, or use terror tactics, but reaches out with an open hand and an open heart, unafraid to listen to another to see how many more similarities there exists than differences ~ to connect the bridges, not build the walls.
  

• Does not count how many people they convert or teaches its followers to associate ONLY with those that believe as they do; that "groupthink" is how many are lead astray collectively.
  

Please, stop the fighting, both inter-denominational and inter-religious. A force divided can not stand as strong. Humanity was granted a very special gift that together we can do far more than the sum of our individual efforts.

Can you not see, what our fighting is doing? We are failing to realize that gift - that potential! And in the meantime we, ourselves, are bringing about our own defeat.

Please stop
Open our eyes
Open our ears

-ESA

Obstacles and Tools

As one strives to grow spiritually, one recognizes and overcomes obstacles that impede growth. Often, these can be summed up in two words: Fear and Self-Pride.

Fear hinders our efforts to open our hearts and reach out to others. It prevents us from leaving comfortable situations for something new and unknown. Fear of failure stills hands and tongues more often than any criticism, reprimand or outside threat.

Self-Pride - feeling that I am greater or stand taller than others in someone's eyes (including God's) - leads to prejudice, ostentation, greed, jealousy, bitterness, lies, and corruption of the soul. With it, one's eyes remain on oneself and not where they should be.

Then there's the combination of the two: when one allows fear of what others think of them to alter what one is inspired to do. That defeats the purpose, for in changing it one weakens or kills it. Or worse, changes it's message or intent.

Within our possession we have tools to counter this.

Faith and Trust work together to form the Courage that sees us through the Fear. Faith and Trust in God opens us to Guidance and Understanding of things that were beyond us, helping us break the illusion fear often holds before our eyes.

We also bring out the best in others by believing in them and trusting them to do the right thing. Yes, we will get hurt, for the world is not perfect. But it's good-faith efforts that allows humanity to collaborate. And when we work together, something amazing happens: We accomplish far more than the sum of our individual efforts!

Humility is hard to maintain, but it keeps the ego down to a manageable size. It helps one to see the the false glitter of lies and LAUGH in it's face! It will not be in standing before people but in serving people that things progress. For in working for and with one another, we grow. Those that stand proudly in front oft are the ones blocking the progress.

Keeping our eyes off ourselves is one of the hardest things. Each year we celebrate our own birth. Attention is given to individual grades in school; personal accomplishments are recognized. To get a job, we must tell people what we do and how well we do it. It's become our way of life.

We need to avert our eyes from a public, self-centered perspective to see what is outside of ourselves (others and their needs) and within ourselves (God's Love, Guidance and Wisdom).

Further, this leads to another tool: Prayer. When we know we are not alone, and when we realize we need help, we pray. Sometimes we bemoan our circumstances and ask for help. But when take our eyes off ourselves completely, praying for others and opening ourselves to His Guidance, we let His Love combine with our love.

And in serving humbly, we allow that Love to flow through our thoughts, works and words. When we focus on self, this is choked off. When we focus how WE are helping others, it is crippled. But when we move our focus off ourselves entirely, it flows sweetly.

When we get past the Fear and Self-Pride,
So many wondrous things happen.

-ESA

Reminders

A question a friend posed pricked me when I re-read it this morning. "How long do you think you will be able to hold onto the message? The enemy will back down whilst you have understanding, but after a bit of time will lure you back to old ideas."

Like many my age, I need to give myself reminders - post-it notes, memos on calendars, voice-mails, emails, repetition and bookmarks. That is just the daily routine stuff.

When there is something that strikes me as important, I copy it into a Word document or write it in a my small journal in my laptop bag. This way, after some time passes and I start to forget the lesson, I can go back and re-read it.

For the question above, it's a good indicator that I've already fallen back to my old habits; I got a similar response to the words as I did when I initially read them. Even though a message struck home at first, the lesson faded with time. I still live in a corrupt and corruptible world. This is still the playground of the enemy, and I am still susceptible.

If I want to continue to grow, I really need to keep valuable lessons at hand and do what I can not to forget them.

They are my stepping stones.
I can still trip.
And start again!

-ESA

When Former Friends Try to Become Your Enemy

I was going to post this last night, but I lent my laptop to my husband after work, so I needed to wait until this morning to do so.

Yesterday, someone sent me a transcript of a chat with another who was once a very close friend of mine. In fact, this former close friend is the very same person of which I speak when I first started posting under this blog name. There was a point reached where he gave into the hatred and anger and I would not walk down that path at his side, so we parted ways.

It appears he is still bitter about that.

In the aforementioned transcript he told my other friend some of the things I shared with him, but used lies, half truths and twisted what was true in such a way to purposely skew the information. I could easily see he was trying to drive a wedge in my friendship with another. I've seen it very often in my life and in the lives of others. Why do some people do that? Why can people not be happy for others but follow the belief that "If they don't want me as a friend, no one else should be as well?"

Sadly, I'd still like to be his friend, I just will not walk down the same path into darkness and destruction, anger and hatred and cries for vengence against one and all... It's not in my nature. My heart still carries Love for him and he is in my prayers every day.

Further, he also told my friend that he'll be posting a video of him burning a bible soon. He's aware that I look at his YouTube account and that my friend and I speak, so I wonder if this is his way of saying "make sure she watches it!" I don't know if I'm just assuming way too much of my influence on things, but of late, he's been "bashing" all the things that he knew are close to my heart. Christ and my faith are always close to my heart and he's been bashing both more frequently.

At first impression, I thought I would be outraged upon hearing it, as that is the response I've seen in others. But I'm not. I'm saddened. Very saddened that things have come to this.

I'm also a bit bemused. Growing up any religion, one often hears the stories of persons being persecuted for their faith. If my assumptions are correct, here is a case of a faith being persecuted because of a person. Now I feel REALLY bad (but still have to chuckle over the absurdity of the situation).

Will I rebuke him or lead an army of followers to his video so he will "get it in the neck" as he put it in the chat? No. I will keep my peace and not forward my knowledge of the link to anyone. If he wants to shout in an empty room to the surrounding silent shadows, let him. Most people can see the emptiness in his exclaimations from the replies I've seen where he's badmouthed Christ elsewhere. So I choose not to stir the embers of a dying fire.

Why return hate for hate.
It only begets hate.
Love instead.

- ESA

A Smile Moment (True Story)

Hello, Folks,

I had a smile moment at work yesterday I thought to share.

I have the attached image printed in 8-1/2x11 color on the wall right next to where my laptop screen is.

Yesterday, a DHL delivery man came to my office so I could sign for a package.

While I scrawled my signature, he looked around my office (like most people do), but instead of spying the huge poster-sized and framed Escher print on one wall or the blanket-sized tapestry on the opposite wall (most people ignore the three-state's worth and federal required HR posters plastering my main wall - LOL), his eyes were drawn to this little print beside my laptop screen.

Then he commented that he liked the image of Christ embracing the little girl.

When I opened my mouth to respond in the pause, he jumped back in and added, "You know, it's a nice image when you're down. But whenever you have an enemy or someone who's giving you trouble, you should also picture that person in Christ's embrace as well."

Then he smiled, took the correct spelling of my last name and walked out.

I believe this is a nice thought to pass on... :-D

- ESA