By Elizabeth A. Mitchell, The Catholic Thing - My younger sister recounts an incident from her college days a few years back. At the start of a new term, she noticed a young man next to her in French class who soon stopped attending. As the term progressed, he was habitually absent and only returned for the final exam. “Nice of you to show up,” my sister quipped. “Where have you been?”... “Saving your skin in Afghanistan.”
This young man had been on the front lines. He had been called up to active duty from his civilian life, and he had answered the call... And yet, now, it seems we are all on call. At any time, in any place, for any reason, we are liable to take the incoming fire of those people who hate life, hate all we hold dear, and who want to hurt others.