R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts
"'The sign on the road as you come into Parris Island says, WHERE THE DIFFERENCE BEGINS,' adds Father Osendorf,'But to me it's more than that, it's where the transformation begins.'"
Thomas Ricks in his book Making the Corps
Since I do Midlife Divorce Recovery Boot Camps, I have studied what soon-to-be soldiers do in boot camp. I am reading a book right now about the making of a Marine. As I read, I think about my own sons and grandsons and wonder if I would want them going through what these young men go through to become Marines. The kind of person you end up with is a person of courage, trustworthiness, dependability, strength and honor. But getting to that point is tough. I mean really, really, really tough. Lots of young men (and now women) don't make it through Marine boot camp. But, I'm more convinced than ever that most transformations worth having require discipline, toughness, commitment, courage and the ability to stand up under real body-testing, emotion-draining, soul-straining pressure. Hard challenges make you stronger. Life-altering adversity makes you reach down deep to see what you're really made of. Being at the end of your rope makes even strong, grown men cry, but also makes them stronger when they survive. But if you are determined to be a Marine (or be a woman who will not be destroyed, who will persevere through the tough stuff, who will have the courage to see the good even through the difficulties) then it all begins in your mind. It begins by saying to yourself. " I want to do this! I can do this! I will do this!" And then you use all of the self-discipline you have and all the power of God and your friends and your other supports, and then, minute-by-minute hour-by-hour, day-by-day you do it. And believe me, when you get through your own personal boot camp, you have a new power and a new confidence and a quiet, proud assurance that you can handle anything.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:1
