The difference between a Battle and the War

Perspective is a game changer in life. It is literally the difference between hope and despair. When we have perspective, joy is never far away—and where we find joy, hope and peace coalesce with it.

There is a big difference between a battle and the war. Words like ‘a’ and ‘the’ help us to emphasise the difference.

The battle is what depresses us, whereas the war is our purpose. If we are so short-sighted that all we can see is the mountain before us, we are defeated before we start. If only we can see the other side of the mountain, then we can mount our ascent with purposeful poise and a considered determination. This next step, though it is important, and even if it is a misstep, it does not define me. I just keep stepping.

With sight only for battle we are easily outraged, whereas tactical patience helps sustain our efforts the whole war through. There is no end to the myriad issues that concern us in this day. And particularly how stories are spun. Just think how precious your time is. Whenever we fight on the wrong hill, we come out disadvantaged in the overall war. We need to be strategic in what we get outraged about. The trick is to discern which hill we are prepared to die on. Yet we do need to be outraged by the right things.

Battles are intermittent, but constant is the war. If our time seems peaceful there is but a moratorium in the shelling. Of course, we must be battle-ready, and the more battle-ready we are, the less we are compelled by manipulation to compete in a battle that isn’t ours. Note the paradox. Being battle-ready means we are less likely to fight in a war that isn’t ours.

If your focus is constrained to the present battle and you are defeated, what happens to your bearing for purpose? It is easily shattered, and then it must be recovered before you are ready for the next battle. That is a waste of your precious energy reserve. Would it not be better to stand atop a mountain to gather in the vista of the war overall—and to go to the battle the General is commanding you to go to? The best strategy by far is preparedness. We must gird our loins and guard our hearts. It’s a long journey, life.

Ready for the battle, committed for the war, we know that one battle’s defeat does not define us, and we gain confidence in the resilience that nothing can conquer us if the battle cannot. Do you see how defeat is turned to victory through a simple change in mindset? All that stands before us is a decision. Will we enter this impossibility driven by the end in the forefront of our minds?

Today there will be a battle, just as there was yesterday, and just as there will be tomorrow. Battles change, but the war does not. If you step out from a yesterday of defeat, gather confidence, for today’s battle may be decisive victory. Keep doing good.

Of course, we don’t battle against flesh and blood, we battle against the powers and principalities of another world. Just remember, they have already been defeated.

Photo by James Pond on Unsplash