Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay
Capt. R.E. Ludlow often considered practicing his faith from what he had been for most of his career: a military commander of middle rank.
Famously in the Army, there were known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns.
From the viewpoint of a captain, there was a lot about the overall strategy of a mission that lived in the realm of the known unknowns – rarely did the generals skip the colonels and the majors to divulge extra information to a captain. Captains and lieutenants still lived in the realm of “need-to-know” basis – but a captain had the advantage of being in the first ranked position on the ground to receive enough reports to influence the majors, colonels, and generals in their decisions.
Capt. Ludlow, being of forward, intense personality, had remained a captain because he had pushed his influence to the limit and offended a general – but saved the army, so, not demoted or disciplined or dishonorably discharged either. Not all officers of higher rank he had served with liked him, but they respected him, and admired his courage in the field and in the ranks.
The officers junior to him, and the enlisted men, had worshiped him, a fact he did not notice while in active duty because he was too busy fighting on all sides for them to have what they needed to stay alive – but he did notice that his lieutenants wanted his opinion on everything, and he had said something to one of them that lodged in his own mind.
“Life is a lot like you and I being in this army. We don't know what those above us know – but we know enough to move on what we have in front of us. The secret is when we know enough to move, we do so firmly and powerfully. Sometimes that move is being a voice. What you find out and report to me, I report up the chain of command – and sometimes, a general will move based on our reports and requests. But nothing happens unless we move.”
The lieutenant had asked whether it was frustrating to not have the full knowledge of what was really being planned.
“Of course. Don't dwell on it, though. We know enough, Lieutenant – time to execute.”
In retirement, Capt. Ludlow and his second wife had taken on the custody of all seven of his grandchildren – so, he still had a unit, and the future looked deeply uncertain because of the pandemic.
However, he studied his Bible intensely, and reported up the line – in prayer – everything that was going on with him and his family. Not that God needed to be told the situation on the ground, but Capt. Ludlow knew he needed to report it.
“It is in the hands of my Commander now,” he often told himself, “and He will not punish me or threaten me for telling Him the truth of my situation. I know that if earthly generals, proud, fallen men, would move at my request, then surely the Lord, Who cares so much more for me, will answer at His discretion, in accord with His will.”
Often he prayed with his wife, Thalia, and one day told her what he had told his lieutenant:
“We know enough, Thalia, now, to complete this mission, although there is a risk – but the Lord has shown us what we can do. If the powers that be can't get those adoption papers here, then I will go to the powers that be, and get them, and settle this matter at last for our little ones. We know enough. It is time to execute.”
Mrs. Ludlow knew that when her husband went back into military mode, things were about to get done – the pandemic had held up the completion of the process for them to become the adoptive parents of his seven grandchildren, and they had been praying about the delay until that day when she had received some information about how to expedite the process that they had not had.
“We know enough,” she repeated to him, and that settled the matter between them.
“I have soda production tomorrow,” he said, “and there is not enough time to hand our portion off to the Duboises – and that also means there will be pickup the next day. But, next week, the Lord be willing, we will see this done!”
Mrs. Ludlow chuckled as they got up and got into bed.
“So,” she said, “I'm 56 years old, and you've still managed to make me the mother of your seven youngest children, eh, Captain?”
“And you thought I have been putting in 15 years of work in every bed we've ever slept in not to get that accomplished, eh, woman?” he purred back. “What you need to watch out for is when I next have the energy to give you Number 8, because the effort will be made, sooner than you think!”
“Like we need another Lil' Robert,” she retorted.
Capt. Ludlow laughed about his baby grandson and miniature … now he knew how his commanders had often felt, because Robert Edward Ludlow III, without being the least bit malicious, pressed every limit that a five-year-old could because his personality was exactly the same as his grandfather's.
“Thank you for the reminder – good night, dear.”
She joined him in laughing, and then they drifted off to sleep.