Falling Skies in Switzerland

It's been a while since my last post. My apologies. It's not that I don't have anything that would encourage you, but I am travelling again and time to write is awfully scarce when you travel with a family of four. Today, though, I cannot help but write. I love it when God speaks through anything and everything in my day. Even through a Sci-fi TV programme!

You might have seen it. Maybe not. "Falling Skies" is an American TV Drama Series that depicts the battle between humans and their alien invadors. It opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Some survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers, in other words normal people like you and me, work to protect the people in their care while also attempting to fight back against the occupying alien force.

At the center of the series is a father called Tom (but it could be a mother!) and his commander Captain Weaver. Tom's family has been torn apart by the invading alien force and he must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of a resistance movement known as the 2nd Mass. He is placed as Weaver's second in command, tasked with ensuring the safety and security of the group's civilian population (see...just like a mother!). Tom will do anything for his sons, including Ben, who was recently rescued from alien control, but is still extremely vulnerable (sounds like my teenage son).

Falling Skies focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat their spirit. Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances. After the aliens invaded, some of the survivors banded together. They formed a resistance movement, determined to fight back and overthrow the alien invasion. The 2nd Mass is such a resistance regiment and the people, under the command of Captain Weaver and Tom, move around the country in search for other survivors. Throughout their trials and tribulations, the 2nd mass make great advancements in the fight against the aliens. But the battle is just getting started.

In the second season of the show Charleston becomes their new hope. They get word that in Charleston they can find a large group of well organized survivors and plenty of food and water. In other words a place of abundance. But it takes time to get there. They decide to make way for it in order to meet up with them and unite their forces. On their journey there, the fractured group is still dealing with its losses in the past, occasionally lashing out at each other. Complicated relationships are put on hold, however, as the convoy reaches Charleston where they discover that the city is not at all what they had hoped for. Superficially it is a very well functioning city, but the members of the 2nd Mass soon discover that small comforts come at a hefty price. People are hiding, full of fear and even their leadership has become weak and ineffective for battle. Nothing is what it seems at first and realizing that the enemy is still out there the 2nd Mass decide to leave. None of the luxuries provided will ever give them peace unless the enemy is defeated first.

Truthfully? Tom's family sounds like mine. Torn apart by the devil and his schemes, my childhood sometimes resembles somewhat of an alien attack. I too, am dealing with the losses of my past, occasionally lashing out at my loved ones, but when we are travelling, our complicated relationships are put on hold. Just like in Fallling Skies we band together in search of other (childhood) survivors. On this healing journey of a life with God, I protect my children best I can, whilst trying to recruit my husband for the job of Captain Weaver. My teenage son, having reached puberty, certainly sometimes seems to need rescuing from alien control! We travel to places we have big hopes in and sometimes we get disappointed by what we find...small comforts come at a hefty price...

Like I said, I am currently traveling, in Europe, and sitting in a Catholic church service I cannot help but feeling that I have just arrived in Charleston. I mean no disrespect, for I am sure their intentions are good and their hearts often in the right place. But this is a place of total abundance and despite or maybe because of their comforts, they seem completely unaware of the enemy out there. Desperately wanting to feel safe, the people in the churches here are essentially just hiding. Never confronting the real issues of Christian living. Few are willing to face the enemy head on. But I am "2nd Mass" and I know I cannot stay here much longer. Upon arrival in Charleston the 2nd Mass temporarily had to lay down their weapons but they were not comfortable doing so. The bible says that word of God is our weapon. When I arrived here, I felt I was asked to lay it down too. They do not speak about God here. They might attend Sunday morning mass but they never talk about God during the week. Not with friends, not over coffee, not even in church choir practice. But they should. Rev 12:11 says "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." I am writing today to remind you that the battle is still on out there and God is with you so give Him glory! Acutely aware of the evil undercurrent in this world I choose to leave the "superficial safety" of this place and go back into battle. I am like Tom, in a battle accompanied by my children and I belong to the 2nd Mass and cannot stay in Charleston much longer. People "fall asleep" here in the abundance of little daily luxuries and they become weak and needy. In South Africa, I lead a little bible study for young children called JOT (Jesus our Teacher) and there we talk about our daily battles and how God helps us win them. This is my "local resistance movement", this is the place where I fight the enemy and try to lead young minds to victorious lives and I cannot wait to get back to my "army". My question to you - who are you? Neither is wrong, whether you choose to live in Charleston or move out with the 2nd Mass, but it is good to know where you will be fighting the battle...it is important to know where you belong.

Wishing you all a HAPPY and VICTORIOUS 2013!!!

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