Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Whiskey - Tango - Foxtrot

I saw this semaphore (above) online and was reminded of my time with the U.S. Navy in Sigonella, Sicily. Our Air Force detachment was invited to attend a big presentation by the Navy. The Senior Chief for the Navy's Fleet Mail Center on the station, for reasons which still mystify me to this day, entrusted us with the stringing of signal flags over the dais after we asked if we could help our naval hosts set up. It was a simple, colorful, decoration of flags that represented letters in the alphabet. No kidding? Really? How hard could this be? Well, the honored guests and commander for Naval Air Station Sigonella sat at attention as the presentation got underway, all unaware of the one string of flags above them spelling out, GO AIR FORCE.

The Senior Chief Petty Officer in charge of the Fleet Mail Center was up on his semaphore flags, much to our chagrin. Hey, I ask again, what was he thinking?

I'm not sure how I'm going to tie this in, I suppose it has to do with the look we see on people's faces when confusion and/or disbelief dictates their mind responds with, "What the...?"  This exclamation is usually followed by some comment of reasonable acceptance akin to, "Well, shut the front door..."  This is about the time we buy into what's being sold, hoping we don't come out of it with egg on our face.  

There are many things I wish I could have witnessed that have occurred in history, before written history, or at least history that was written on the spot by people that actually witnessed the events. Wouldn't you like to have seen the faces of people that were confronted by amazing, unexplainable things, and heard their first comment? I would have like to have witnessed the burning bush of the Old Testament, Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, or Noah being instructed to build the ark. I envision those involved looking behind boulders to ensure their buddy Ismael isn't trying to pull their leg. Things like this can occur when one has too much of the fermented goat's milk and blood. Once they have ascertained they're alone, except for the voice of God, I see the eyebrow being arched and followed by the Hebrew version of "WTF?" One can really feel for the "virgin" Mary as she was trying to explain her pregnancy. Yeah, the same three words come to mind.

And the great Dragon was cast down, that Chief Serpent, which is called The Devil and Satan, which deceives all The Earth, and it was cast down unto The Earth and its Angels were cast down with it.

Revelation 12:9

How gullible were the people of the time? Read the Bible. It seems, to me, gullibility holds tightly to the left hand of faith, while skepticism holds tightly to the right.  Satan, after all, is the great deceiver.  A healthy dose of skepticism is nothing if it is not proof of faith.  Gullibility is also proof of faith but without mind.  Blind obedience is not required and proves nothing except deafness to a truth that was spoken and not heard.

Mary had her hands full of skepticism, but I think the gullibility factor might have been less with Moses than with Noah.  Any skepticism is squelched when stone tablets start being immediately etched from solid rock by the hand of God.  Noah, on the other hand, had to take it all on faith that building a monster ship was a reasonable request from some bodiless voice seeming to emanate from the heavens.  I would hate to think, building such a ship was simply a test Noah wasn't expected to fulfill, but once he called Gods "bluff," so to speak, God was left with no option than to destroy the earth as proclaimed.  Our "heroic" biblical cast of religious heroes take their instructions on faith, for the most part, trying their best to fulfill the wishes of the omnipotent creator, whereas the "bad guys" are always demanding from our heroes, "Yeah, well, prove it!"  Remember, this initial attitude is often followed by an astonished, "Well... shut the front door!"

I am constantly amazed when God reveals the truth.  Not that God has revealed it, but, rather, that I was cognizant enough to realize it, witness it, and stand there with my mouth agape, like some simpleton, marveling at it.  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?  Well, November Sierra!

Thank you, God!

"A healthy dose of skepticism is nothing if it is not proof of faith.  Gullibility is also proof of faith, but without mind.  Blind obedience is not required and proves nothing except deafness to a truth which was spoken and not heard."

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as a chaplain at the regional medical center.