Spiritual Danger Close (SDC)
Introduction
Welcome to Spiritual Danger Close Blog. Whether you found
this via weblinks I posted across social media, or you happened across it, I
welcome you to the blog. You may be wondering what is the importance of the
wording with the blog name? Whether or not this was a concern to you, I felt
strongly that the naming of blog would be important; in laying the foundations
of the blog. There is a little bit to unravel from this three-word title, that
is it is an amalgamation of two words, Spiritual + Danger Close. Let us examine
this by each word, after that I hope you can see what I envision.
Spiritual
A brief Google search can bring up the numerous meanings as
well interpretations of the word spiritual (Oxford Languages, n.d.). In the adjective
form in English the meaning of Spiritual has can be non-material (minimalism),
inner (self), psychic (superstitious), religious (organized, or not organize),
sacred (site or experience), divine, holy, and non-secular (yes it can be in
some cases). What is spiritual to you, do you have spiritual experiences, and can
you be spiritual and not religious (including the inverse, religious but not
spiritual) to name a few?
Oaks
(1985) noted, “To be spiritually minded is to view and evaluate our experiences in
terms of the enlarged perspective of eternity” (para. 6). Spiritual is the opposite of the
carnal. Things of the world are fleeting, we by our very nature are inclined to
carnal not spiritual. It takes work, determination, perseverance, etc., to be
spiritual. For some this comes naturally, and for others its like hearing a
foreign language; you know the person spoke, but you lack the context.
Spiritual is also the subjugation of the flesh, striving for something greater than
the carnal (Oaks, 1985, para. 26). With that in mind lets examine the next bit
of the three-word title.
Danger
Close
Unless
you were military, heavy gaming nerd, or a know-it-all, you likely haven’t heard
the term Danger Close. This is a military definition, that references a particularly
hopeless situation (Military Factory, n.d.). To put into context let us examine
it through an all to real scenario. You are a soldier, deployed closely to the
active combat areas. Your team came across enemy combatants, and the battle
that you have been engaged with is absolute hell on earth. Your team has a
couple down, the ammunition is not enough for the engagement of this type. So as
the team lead, you position yourself closer to the enemy. Your team is in
desperate need of close air support, such as a fighter dropping bombs, a drone firing
a rocket, etc.
You
know that due to your proximity of the enemy to your current location, that if
you call in this needed air support you have a possibility of receiving friendly
fire; when friendly force by accident, uses deadly force on other friendly forces.
If you don’t do anything, your team might not make it home, or you know you
team will not make it home; letting the enemy go could endanger more lives. So,
you call over the radio for Danger Close air support. While this is not a common
occurrence, it is a possibility in the realm of warfare. For those who have
done this, from what they described a desire beyond themselves; the mission
comes first, their lives are second. Failing to do what is necessary may endanger
more lives. So for that moment, awaiting a salvation beyond your ability, you keep
up the fire support keeping the enemy engaged on your position.
Abinadi’s
Martyrdom
Now
with those to terms defined, and clearly explained, what on earth could
Spiritual have to do with Danger Close? I’m glad you are thinking that, which this
is something I pondered on as well. I can’t be honest in say I understand the
meaning, or intent of this myself, 100 percent of the way. My spiritual
impressions on naming the blog are hard to describe, but the story that I recalled
in a way summarized what came into my mind with titling for “Spiritual Danger
Close.” The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, about the
peoples of the Americas taken from the abridgment of various records from
several peoples (The Book of Mormon, Title Page).
In one of
the books, there is a wicked king named Noah, who has turned a holy office into
a kingship; ruling in wickedness by encouraging sins, increasing taxes, etc. As
was common occurrence in the Old Testament, the Lord called a prophet to bring
the people into repentance; or face the consequences. Enter now a man named
Abinadi, who started prophesying to King Noah, and the people of King Noah.
After a back-n-forth between Abinadi, and King Noah, it came to Abinadi being
told if he didn’t stop preaching against the king, that he would be put to
death.
With
the threat of death Abinadi kept to his mission, telling King Noah, “Yea, and I will asuffer even until death, and I will not recall
my words, and they shall stand as a btestimony against you” (Mosiah 11-17). Then
eventually after King Noah was pressured into executing Abinadi, who died a martyr’s
death by being burned alive for his words. There is a lot to unpack in this
story, but what it serves in the purpose of this blog is an example of this
idea of “Spiritual Danger Close.” Abinadi knew going in that he would face the
probability of death, but continued to exercise his faith, his spirituality, in
the face of adversity.
Being secure in our spirituality we too should when in the
face of adversity, or in other words “Danger Close,” have the fortitude to stay
the course; come what may. Am I saying we should become martyrs? Yes, and no, I
recall what Tsunemoto (2005) said, “If you think of taking on a disciple
yourself, then you should practice diligently [spirituality] every day” (p. 25).
Now, I hope to have explained some what the thoughts I have felt, in my desire
to write this blog from my impressions to promptings I received.
Conclusion
What will Spiritual Danger Close look like, its hard to say
really as I still need to ponder that. What I can say is that its going to be from
the best books, I will use some level of academia in referencing things through
out future posts; right now semi using American Psychological Association as a
reference guide, as that is what I’m most familiar with. I’m not really a fan
of subscripts for referencing. To be upfront on things, which might not be
obvious to some.
I’m a “spiritually” active member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints; which this year marks 18 years in the faith. I
converted in my pre-teens, of my own will and volition. I have been devoutly active,
to spiritually dry, rebellious, and aloof from spirituality, and have returned
now, but with great passion. I had gone astray so far at one point that I was
on formal probation. The lessons I learned along the way haven’t always been
immediate, but with some impressions with some introspection, I have seen the
value of my trials.
Honesty, even though I’m not always honest, is something
that matters to me. I will be straight forward, clear, and concise, when it
comes to my personal opinions to doctrine of the church. To start, I don’t agree
with all the things of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have
faith enough to know, that by following the prophet, and letting God prevail,
that it will all work out in the Lord time; based on my faithfulness to His
commandments. If you are reading this its because you saw my post elsewhere,
yes, I agree with 99% of Deseret Nationalism (#DezNat); that’s a post for
another day. I don’t really know of all the content I will push out, or the
frequency which this occur. I will try to keep everything inline with the
concept of the blogs desired name. I have some other blogs brewing but want to
let this be guided by spiritual impression as much as possible. When they are not,
I can annotate such in the title. Until then my friends, Brothers and Sisters, May
God be With You.
References
Military Factory (n.d.) Danger close (US DoD definition). Military Factory. https://www.militaryfactory.com/dictionary/military-terms-defined.asp?term_id=1476
Oaks, D.H., (1985, October). Spirituality. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/10/spirituality?lang=eng
Oxford Languages. (n.d.) Definition: spiritual. Google. (n.d.)https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+of+spirtual&oq=definition+of+spirtual&aqs=chrome..69i57.4502j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Tsunemoto, Y. (2005, January). Hagakure: book of the
samurai, second version. http://3yryua3n3eu3i4gih2iopzph.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/pdf/hagakure.pdf
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