I don't know a whole lot of German, but that phrase sticks out in many people's minds. It was written more than half a century ago by a man named Adolf Hitler. The meaning of the words is simple and to the point: My Struggle.
My struggle.
Why do we struggle? Why are we trying to protect humanity from itself and from the diabolical? Honestly, I don't know why we are doing it. The Fall and the beginning of the War were long ago, longer than my brief existence. I do not know the true reasons for the beginning, only what I have been told, what has been passed down and recorded from the beginning of time. What others have decided I should know.
So, I really don't know why we struggle. I just know why I do. It is something I remind myself of every night, as I prepare to sleep, as I pray. It is something that I read on the cover of a videotape. It is why I think that Michael and Laurence, possibly others, are doomed to fail.
"The first casualty of war is innocence."
It is from a movie called "Platoon." Apparently, it is a very realistic example of what life was like in Vietname - from the American perspective. I didn't watch it, I really don't like violent films. There is such a difference in the gazes of the children and adults. The innocence of youth, the wonder of how the world works. It is something that is lost. As the children grow, as they make war upon each other and the world in their fight for survival, they lose their innocence. They lose their purity. Their joy. Their life.
Ever since the War has begun, we have all been slowly sliding away from the innocence and purity that God crafted into us. In more than one way, we are becoming are greatest foe, spiritual mockeries of what we once were. Is the cruellest Malakite still better than the gentlest Impudite? Are the destroyers so much better than the preservers? Yes? No?
Or both?
The Malakim kill to save souls. Souls of those who may fall to evil. Souls of those who may be tortured by evil. The Impudites preserve life to steal. They preserve life to preserve their own. Evil and Good in actions, Evil and Good in purpose.
Can there not be Good in action and purpose? Can we not be both Preservers and Redeemers, renowned for bringing the dark ones to light? Daimon, sweet Daimon, has been brought from darkness, one who never knew light, never felt the touch of God on his brow, the kiss of Heaven on his lips. He and countless others - proof of preservation - Goodness in purpose and action.
Innocence.
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