There is nothing overly significant about this day that I can remember. Nothing to memorialize or prioritize. It’s a moment between battles.

Likely, I won’t remember this day as significant next year either. Today, I’m tired. Staggeringly weary. Hoping to catch a breather between the struggles of last week and the planned offensives against the Enemy this week.

There have been casualties. Immeasurable loss. Broken bodies everywhere strewn over the landscape. The stench of sweat and blood fills my nostrils. A few fled in fear. I don’t begrudge them. Who can stand the sight of so much chaos?

Knowing I don’t have the strength to honor the dead with burial. The Dead will have to bury their own. This causes me great sorrow.

The Captain appears. Scars on his body from catastrophic conflict no one comes back from – except he did. His eyes always on the horizon. He doesn’t step over the fallen. They are seen. It’s as if his gaze will raise them.

My statement was simple. “This ground is hallowed.”

“Indeed it is. We honor the Fallen by standing firmly on the ground they were unwilling to surrender for love of God. We honor them by looking out to territory ahead we would not be able to claim without their sacrifice. We honor them by laying down our lives without reservation or regret. We will reestablish a stewardship to these lands the Evil One will be unable to oppose.”

He then dropped his gaze to mine and uttered, “”Close your eyes. Rest. I’ve got the watch. Tomorrow brings liberation.”

“I’m terrified” found its way across my lips.

Then inexplicably he changed course, strode over to me and bent down. Taking my face into his hands and with a look I can only describe as resolute love he spoke directly into my soul.

“I said…I have the watch.”