The awakening

He was an old Marine. I was driving my black Suburban down the back country road in Iowa, on my way someplace important I suppose. It is one of those 4-lane joining roads that get you across country to important places faster, and in time I see it ahead of me. The newer red Ford truck with the sticker on the window stating that he was a Marine, the plate cover that said the same, the bars sticker showing that he was a combat Vet in the window. The sharp creased Cammo Hat on the dash. He was doing about 55 in the right lane and had little reason to be any place in a hurry, so I simply was going to slide past in the left lane.

As I drove past I saw him turn his head to see me. He was perhaps in his mid 80's. Leaning a little on the door and simply driving home. You could see the years had been good, but his weary visage was there... the thousand mile stare, the empty purpose, the "I am simply waiting for further orders from above"... All in a glimpse, as I rolled by about 10 miles faster than him.

I was not paying much attention. I was on my phone yapping, hands free of course, and as it was a beautiful sunny spring morning I had my dark glasses on. A cup of coffee, a book on CD and a cigar completed the kit. Focused, with purpose and executing the plan. I rolled past and gave a friendly nod and a wave and a puff of smoke and thought nothing more about it.

It was only a few short miles down the road I saw in my mirrors someone in the left lane heading toward me to overtake me. I moved to the right to let them pass and kept on. It was only a minute then before I realized that it was the same red Ford. Reaching out to pass me? I was surprised by this sudden need to get someplace and was amused. It is Iowa and flat fields and 3 more hours to my destination, so you find value where you can... Anyway here the guy comes, intentionally, with purpose, he has a mission... As he is passing me I see he is bolt upright, Hat on his head in a "piss-off" attitude, glasses on, hands at 10-2, driving hard. When he is window to window, I get the most crisp salute with eyes forward I have witnessed, and away he went. I was in disbelief... what had happened?

Something had reached into the dark recesses of this old "bug eater" and had come alive. Something had shaken awake a memory of a smell, a sound, and a purpose. Deep inside, "that which I am" came back, and he wanted to acknowledge it. He was "alive" again. He was worthy of his station, had not failed, was still a capable asset on the field of valor. It was a simple, but purposeful, gesture. I was humbled. He slowed then, a little, and let me continue on past on the right. He waved gently, and smiled. And so did I.

I was not in the service. I felt that to salute in return was something above my station. Feebly, in humility I simply waved and smiled... and I have been thinking about this all spring. What wears you down to the place that is in sharp contrast your your past reaches of achievement. Who, on a simple road to someplace else, will surprise you with a call to something more? How will you express it in return? I think this is in us all. That spark that wakens deep in our "knowing" and draws us to something more worthy. It shows, as pathetic, our acceptance and complacency of the more banal and mundane. So, perhaps you are tired, and that battle is for the younger ones... but they are still in need of a Sage. The one of good council. The old "bug eater" that still has grit in their craw and a memory of the sound and the fury of the battle. The loss of the companions on the field of this memory.

In a way, I suppose, I was that, to the man I know not. But in that simple, but purposeful manner, he is that Sage to me. I will be more vigilant about lethargy. I will recall that the one that was inspired, can inspire. In watching this old man rise to lead, I know I would have followed him into the battle. Business or war, he was a leader. To be respected, to be obeyed, sacrificed for. It is actually a call to me, in giving that salute, that I have a reason to be more. To be better. More noble, and with high virtue. I return that salute, as a warrior in life, that has a higher call than the rest. I will honor that call. Carry on.