Tell Me All That You Know

Give me your secrets
Bring me a sign
Give me a reason
To walk the fire
See another dawn
Through your daughter's eyes
You give me a reason
To walk the fire
-Robert Duncan

The above is the theme song for a newer season of the TV show The Unit- dealing with the (fictional) Delta Force, the black-ops guys we all hear about but never see. True, there are black ops, primarily handled by the Special Forces- I've had the privelege of knowing a couple SF guys, and they're pretty hardcore. What they do, I don't ask, and they don't tell, ha ha. At any rate, it's a cool show. So it would seem I too have plenty of reasons to 'walk the fire'- now if I could only get out there and get a little piece of the action! Being stateside is all well and good, but I'm not going to lie, it's all about the promotion and money. Well, that and defending the country, all that noble stuff. I didn't sign on to be a mercenary, I signed on to be a soldier. It's not always easy to keep up one's idealism, but you do what you can. I'd like to think in some small way I've made a difference. It's always odd (and this still happens) when some stranger comes up to you and thanks you for your service to the country. I do appreciate it, to all you people who have said that to me, and really, every single time it makes me proud that I wear 'U. S. Army' over my heart. But you civilians pay my salary, and keep me up and running, so on behalf of the Army, thank you guys, we need you just as much as you need us.
In other world news, still counting the days until I get back to Connecticut, however short a time it may be. There's always the next day, the next stepping stone. And in time, I know it'll all come together. One of the things I've realized, perhaps never believed till now, is that I run this show. What happens, or does not happen, depends on me. Not on the fall of the cards, or the position of the stars, but on my own actions. Actions bring results, for better or worse, and thoughts become actions. Much like Plato, I put mind uber alles- that is, mind and will are the factors that first determine what actions will be- then actions determine consequences, for good or worse. It's just a question of having one mind about what you want to do, and the analytical ability to put that design into a plan, and the willpower to follow through and make it happen, as well as the resources to make that vision a reality. Interestingly enough, this corresponds to the four elements, and their respective areas of influence- first is thought- air, the intellect. The next is emotional commitment, the desire to 'make this happen', to win and succeed- water. Next is the drive and passion, the energy and stick-to-it-iveness- fire. Finally, the material concerns, perhaps even the body that acts in the material world to make things happen- earth. I could belabor the point that this is reflected in the Tarot, but that's pretty much been done to death at this point- nothing you don't know already, I'm going to guess. I'm beginning to see the Tarot as a means to an end, a raft, as Buddha would say. And where does this raft go? I'm hoping to a deeper understanding of the human condition. Really, if God didn't want us to travel, why did s/he leave us a map, and all these clues? Well, as always, steer clear of the Tenafly Viper, and I've got to go do laundry at Deep 13.