I spoke to an interesting fellow yesterday who served our country in the U.S. Army Special Forces and who now lives on a small farm in south Georgia. He shared with me that despite some of the horrific things he dispassionately performed whilst serving in the military he cannot bring himself to slaughter or eat the animals on his farm.
This juxtaposition intrigued me and reminded me of a quote from Robert Frost that I have often found to be true: “There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate.” I think that most would agree that life on earth at present is filled with contradiction, discomfort and controversy, but that is no excuse for shutting down, withdrawing, growing disdainful or giving up hope.
Wise is the man who protects his heart through radiant tenderness and compassion, no matter what he must do in the safeguarding of freedom and truth.
Gregory Hake 
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Thanks for sharing this today.
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I think that when you keep a generous heart, you are always leaving open the possibility for someone to change. It is a terrible thing to close your heart to the possibility of someone changing. I liken it to judging someone for doing something you disapproved of while stopping them from addressing the issue.
There are many reasons to keep and maintain a kind and generous heart, but I think the most important reasons have to do with refraining from judgement of others.
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Your words strike a tender place. Whether in war or in daily living there are things to meet. Great and generous tender and compassionate are potent qualities to live by. Thank you for your post today.
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Very thought provoking post! The juxtaposition of your conversation with the gentleman yesterday and the Robert Frost quotation is a perfect example of what you have referenced before about being in the world but not of it. There are harsh elements we unfortunately have to be in contact with, but to preserve and build our compassion in the midst of it keeps the door open for greatness where many others have lost there will and been ground up in the mess of the world.
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What an interesting dichotomy. I’ve noticed that many who join the military have been disturbed at what their actual experiece was compared to there expectation. I don’t think there is a training that can prepare most to withstand the cruelty of war. I’m sure as we have been at war so long there is a greater population who have been affected by this. I wish him well and hope he finds some peace on his farm.
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