Page 10 - Have Faith Nov

Day 7

Walk A Mile... Matthew 5:41

This month’s reflection centres on a project understand. Just know that there is a long
that we undertook last year. There is an old road that is walked.
saying that you should never judge somebody
unless you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. I would like to point out at this point that this
Never a truer word said. But sometimes to is for everyone, not just Veterans but in light
understand a person you need to walk a mile of certain events I would like to keep with
in their shoes. This was so apparent to us as our heroes. Our idea was to walk a mile for a
we tried to get the public to understand the certain group of people. 80 of them in fact. I
road our veterans walk. could never understand what they have been
through but as I walk, I will consider how they
In this day and age, news stories come and go have suffered on their journey. You see, these
so quickly one can be forgiven for forgetting 80 took their own lives last year. I walked in
the problems of other people. Especially when my old Army boots as they did and I tried to
we are caught up in our own day to day lives. get people to understand what I was doing
This can make awareness of the problems of and why I was doing it in the hope that more
others so difficult. The thing is regardless of people could walk a mile for someone they
how empathic we feel for somebody, there is know that may be suffering. I know that God
no way we can walk a mile in somebody else’s was with me and gave me strength to complete
shoes. All we can really do is try to understand the task.
the best we can. But it can be a good idea to
take the time to try to understand someone a Maybe this is something you could do for peo-
little more. Learn about what has made that ple who you know are walking their particular
person good and bad. The more you know, the difficult journey. Yes, you will never know
more you can start to walk a metaphorical what they are going through but it may help
mile but without this understanding and to let others understand their journey a little
knowledge their shoes will never fit you. more. You never know, it could save a life.

No one can really understand what Armed Unfortunately, as I write this we have lost so
Forces Veterans have been through unless many more veterans in this tragic way but we
you have served alongside of them. And never give up on them. Jesus never gave up on
even then, that would mean physically being us at any point despite the incredible suffering
alongside them on duty. That is the only way. he had to bear. Maybe a good incentive to use
But as I said, no-one can be expected to fully when walking your mile.

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