I have liked the Confederate General, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson since watching the movie, "Gods and Generals". I admire his piety and the respect it garnered from his men.
Recently, I was encouraged by a well-read Jackson-aficionado, to read "Stonewall Jackson's Verse" by southern author, H. Rondel Ramburg, D.Min. as a means of beginning a study on Jackson's life.
Jackson's life-verse was Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
The book is a simple relation of that verse and how Jackson's life is displayed its details through the statements of friends, family and colleagues, and through history' own account.
Jackson - when barely in his prime - had already lost his father and his mother, saw the dissolution of his family as the children were distributed among relatives, and had lost his young wife. In every instance of loss, he returned to this reassuring verse.
Jackson did not use the verse as an assurance that if one would just "hang on - things would get better". Instead he recognized that God's definition of "good" and his own definition of "good" were sometimes on seperate ends of the spectrum and the purpose to which God called him was that he would be changed - not God - nor His plan.
This mind-set resulted in a resolute calmness on the battlefield for Jackson (which helped him earn the "Stonewall" nickname); he was assured that God had already "fixed" the day of his death and until that day came, he was as safe when the bullets were flying on the battlefield, as he was in "his bed".
Romans 8:28 has long been a favorite of mind, but often because of its positive appeal. Now I see it a little differently - now it says to me -God works things according to His purpose; and we know His purpose is good.
The events that occured on September 11, 2001, were not "good".
However within His economy, God could take the tragedy of that despicable act and "work" it toward the good of His purpose.
If we learned the lessons that this event taught us - we could line up our definition of "good" with His own definition of "good".
There were "good" acts that day and the days that followed.
There were "good" people, doing good from a heart of compassion.
There was even a "good" sort of grief that drew us all together around our shared sorrow.
But ultimately, one decade later, can we say that we have changed?
Have our thoughts, as a nation, become less fearful?
Are we more mindful of our neighbors?
Perhaps these are questions we should ponder on this day.
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