The quiet professional

 THE TRUEST VIRTUE OF A WARRIOR...

Sitting on the deck on night with some blessed friends a question came... “in all your travels around the world what, in your opinion, is the biggest thing you learned about the world?” My answer came instantly...The vast majority of people on this planet that we share and outside of first world nations, basically are seeking some sort of joy. Which varies from the ability to eat and drink water to raising their families in some sort of semblance of peace. They chop wood and haul water to survive. Most are sheep following the rules. Most of the time they do what they have to do, sometimes they get to do what they’d like to do. Then there are the wolves… The stealers of joy…. We go to meet those wolves in the dark places, we are the sheepdogs, the protectors of lost children, the ones headed toward the sounds of gunfire, moving into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, witnessing the ugliest of war and in all of this holding on to our humanity to come home sane, to turn back around again and attempt to Free the Oppressed.

Since joining in 1983 as a "grunt" I  had always sought the truest virtue of a warrior. After a break in service to go through medical school and residency I continued the quest.  It took me that time to understand that it's all about LOVE.  We fight because we love those next to us and those at home behind us, not because we hate what is in front of us.  It's that John 15:13 kind of love that sets us apart as true warriors, quiet professionals and Full Spectrum Americans.

~ Doc Pete