The Art of War

This is a book I have heard about for most of my life.  Something written long ago of practical value as much today as it was 1,300 year ago.  I scoffed at the idea.  It is not like weapons have not changed, hence tactic in the field must as well. Or so I thought.

Last week Swede and I were in Barnes and Nobles hunting cheap books to read.  He headed immediately to the Sci-Fi section, I to art magazines.  Then we met over in the discount section.  And there sat a lone copy of the Art of War by Sun Tzu.  I thumbed it open and began to read.  Yeah, I bought it.

As we drove to lunch I was reading from the book to Swede, just random quotes and we were laughing with great regularity.  After lunch, as Swede drove me home I began reading again only this time after each quote, asking him how he apply that statement to his financial dealings?  Again much laughter as he blurted out various scenarios each worse than the previous!

But, I got to thinking ... there are no coincidences in life, so why this book now crossing my path?

Written sometime before 512 BC the Art of War is not a book of tactics or how to wage war but a work on the philosophy and logistics of when and how to address both larger and smaller forces.

I have now read the book five times.  The observations of this man, so long ago, are quite reasonable - in fact it would be hard to fault his conclusions as a general rule, one way or another.  Just as Swede had been able to think through smart aleck answers to the quotes I read him, it is just as easy to think of real answers in normal life to the areas he address.

So, last night, another sleepless one - I sat and thought on this book of ancient wisdom and began to think on how could it be used to layout a strategy for Christian Warfare?  Remember, I am a Hutterite and pacifist - so I am not talking about killing anyone here!  But we are each called to Spiritual Warfare and perhaps I can tell you about the book and how to apply it to your own life now - or perhaps in the future...

So, not immediately, but definitely coming your way in the not so distant future - God willing.