After
high school I received a congressional appointment to the United
States Air Force Academy. There are things you learn in the military
that are not taught elsewhere, such was the case about a year into my schooling.
We
were being trained that summer for prisoner of war and survival
schools. Most of our professors and instructors were Vietnam vets,
and the stories of the prison camps and such were streaming in. Some
of my instructors had incredible experiences to share.
They
set up a mock POW (Prisoner of War) camp. The goal was for us to
experience the environment of a POW camp for a few days and learn
some tactics to cope with what we could expect to experience if we
were shot down over enemy territory. One of the main tools the
Vietnam used were simply isolation boxes. With no room to stand or
lay down, we sat on a small "T" made of 2x4 wood - with our
"honey bucket." Except for the sun, there was no way to
know the time.
One
night I was taken from my isolation box and brought to an even
smaller box where the mock guards literally stuffed me in and I could
not move. Just scratching your nose would take effort. In about an
hour I was to find out that this was a preparation before they took
you into some mock interrogation and torture.
As
they opened the box, and pulled me out like meat from a tuna can, I
laid there on the ground and my muscles did not respond. I
couldn’t walk. They knew that though as they were ready with 2
huge guys who grabbed me under the arms as my legs dragged behind me
spastically trying to catch up with the rest of me. It was then that
a familiar voice resounded in my heart:
"You
can not even walk without me!"
Although
the voice surprised me, it was a satisfying thought that was
downloaded into my heart. My Lord Jesus was letting a crucial truth
penetrate my soul: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a
man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from
me you can do nothing." John 15:5
It
is not too many people that are so prideful and self sufficient that
the Lord has to take to a POW camp to reveal to them the depths of
that truth. I was blessed and favored that He did.
Insight
to apply to your Christian Home Based Business: There will be
times when you are building your business that you simply realize
that you can’t do it. It is comforting to know that in a higher
reality, that is true for everything you have done already. God can
help you through those times.
One
possible application: There will be times you will lose sales,
customers, or business partners. During dark hours, remember who
never leaves or forsakes and is your ultimate business partner
