Duty & Loyalty

I am not really sure what to write about today... so I thought I'd jot down what 'Chu' (Duty & Loyalty) mean to me.

For the samurai, having done some "thing", or said some "thing", he knows he owns that "thing". He is responsible for it and all the consequences that follow. A samurai is immensley loyal to those in his care. To those he is responsible for, he remains fiercly true.

I am not really sure where I learned this. I cannot recall some one sitting me down, or coming alongside me to share these ideas. I can remember when I first realized that I held them though. In regards to being responsible for something I had done I remember it being in basic training for the Army. Although the exact instance is a little fuzzy I remember the Drill Sergeants calling people out for something or other. More often than not the recruits would blame someone or something other than themselves. They would be rewarded with doing push ups until the Drill Sergeants got tired. One time I had screwed up. I can't really remember why by when I was asked about it I basically said that I had screwed up. I still had to do pushups, but it was significantly less than my compatriots. From then on I knew that if I was to get through the rest of Basic training I had to own up to my mistakes. "The maximum effective range of an excuse is zero meters." In regards to loyalty of those whom God has placed around me... growing up I sort of always took that to heart. My brother and I were left alone - a lot - and my friends were all I really had. I know I am not perfect in this regard. I know that I have failed many a friend (to my shame), but if a friend ever calls me and asks for a favor I will do what I feel is best for them. In one instance I had a friend ask me for money to buy some paintball gear that was being cleared out. I told him that I would not do that, but I would loan/give him money to fix his car that needed repair at the time. Those whom have been brought into our sphere of influence are there for a reason. Verse for today: Luke 12:42-48, ESV And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant [9] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.