I’m a peace-loving soul at heart. I’m not impressed by the exhorbitant expense of war in the world over the last ten years, and I wonder about how we treat the planet through acts of war, and the people this earth houses.
All this was disrupted, while I was living in Hollywood and I read an email one day, while sipping on my daily latte at a Starbucks. The whanau (family) email informed me that my nephew, Bradley James was joining the New Zealand army. Another email, a short time after, informed me he had been accepted into the New Zealand Army’s training program. The kid was on his way to becoming a soldier.
I pondered a lot about his journey towards a life committed to being the best soldier he could be with his training given. He is someone determined to defend and protect his fellow countryfolk and allies. I knew I definitely wanted to be back in Aotearoa New Zealand, to see this guy graduate. He’s attended my own University graduated as a child, I owed him a return of favor, on his big day.
He was always such a good lad from the day he was born. Respectful to a fault. I didn’t want to miss his journey as a soldier, for the world.
I also began to wonder what it meant to be an ‘Uncle’ in a newly discovered ‘military family.’ What does a soldier and his fellow soldiers need in way of support to get through many a situation they will find themselves in, across the months ahead? How do you become ‘Team Army support?’ was the new Hollywood thinking pattern of each day.
These thoughts that suddenly crept into my Hollywood-Kiwi head, were often unanswerable for me. From that moment on, I found myself praying a lot more than usual. Bradley’s name is often prayed at these times. When I pray for him, an amazing Peace descends. This let me know, that as a soldier, he’s a good one.
I also feel a strange sense of pride in his decision. That decision where he’s chosen to push back forces that would rise up against what he believes is the best for New Zealand and his contribution in this world. His view,suddenly becomes all of his family’s view, in supporting him through the battles ahead.
Maturing is about supporting the next generation. So, alongwith his mother, sister, dad, nephew, future bro-in-law and his many Uncles, Aunties and cousins (grandparents and great Uncles, great Aunties as well)…. I’m now on board supporting Bradley James across the summits and through the many valleys of his journey. Go kid!
Bradley’s journey in being a staunch soldier for New Zealand, begins on this road, a highway, at the base of Mt Ruapehu near Waiouru, a place where his mother and I used to holiday with our cousin Bert Jr. as kids. Always funs times.
The snapshot on thw way to his graduation day and initial training base, looks a bit like this.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand. Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 8.6.11~
