I'm certain he was much like your son or daughter - constantly tight-roping that blurred line between the peaceful village of Obedience and the tumultuous city of How-Many-Times-Have-I Told-You-Not-To. New shirts and shoes had the life expectancy of a snowball in Death Valley. If he didn't rip the newness away with tree branches, or stain the colors into oblivion with grease, mud, or strawberry jam, he'd just leave them in a lump on some forgotten lawn to soak in the cool night dew. We had our rules, but he had his dragons to slay, forts to build, and hills to conquer. Oh sure, he made concessions. We were, after all, the parents. But after the family portrait, Sunday School, or similarly distracting detour, he, like Jesus, had to be about his Father's business. If that comparison seems to flirt with blasphemy, I beg your indulgence.

      You see, I believe that just as Jesus had a destiny given Him by His Father, our sons and daughters also weren't born into this world to simply occupy space and convert energy from one form to another. No, they were imprinted with the image of God and from the day they drew their first breath to now they have been constantly invited to join Him in an adventure filled with both exhilarating romance and breathtaking uncertainty. Sometimes they heard that call as the wind blew through the trees, or saw it in the darkening sky before a summer storm. Other times they felt the call as they rounded third, or chased fireflies after dark. There were times when the call hurt through the loss of a pet, a parent, or a family, but the One calling never stopped luring them to their true identity.

      Our sons and daughters are now responding to one of the rarest forms of His invitation. It requires them to set aside personal ambition, the comforts of home and, perhaps, their own lives to free others from a demonically foul and shrewdly deceptive snare. For so many that will never know them as anything other than camouflaged silhouettes against the desert sun they, without serious murmur, go hungry and unwashed and sleepless. Honor and courage are just words until they are given life by real sacrifice.

      Unwittingly, they are responding, in their imperfect way, to the same call as our Savior to set the captives free and proclaim freedom to the ones in bondage. They have been preparing for it since they were old enough to walk, and even now are being prepared for what He will one day call them to in eternity.

      After observing firsthand the selflessness of four young Marines, Martin Savidge of CNN is reported to have tearfully asked, "Where do they get young men like this?"

      Well, Mr. Savidge, I believe that even though rough-edged and still tip-toeing that blurred line at times, they are straight from the loving hand and heart of God.