Silence is powerful. Silence can feel like: something bad is about to happen, a blessing to find some sanity, or it could just be awkward. Make peace with silence. Words are often hollow and rarely carry weight in comparison to action. 

We rarely listen intentionally and try to see things from the other person’s perspective. We come into a conversation with our belief system loaded and we wait for the right moment to open fire. If you’re formulating a response to what the other person is saying while they are still speaking, you’re not actually listening. A moment of silence is quite appropriate while you weigh what was said and choose your words carefully. 
 When someone challenges you, the natural reaction is to defend yourself. There is a great feeling of empowerment when you choose not to respond.  It takes intestinal fortitude to stand your ground. Is this a petty argument or a battle worth fighting?

I was on an IED call working jointly with Army Psy-Ops so things were a little disorganized trying to get security set and the scene controlled while they were on a bull horn taunting the Taliban. It was pretty humorous from a certain perspective. The Army guys really wanted a new truck and were desperately trying to get their current one shot or blown up. Looking back at it, the only reason they had a hummer in our AO was because they were Army.  The Marine Corps had banned them a few months earlier because of several catastrophic incidents. 

Flat bottomed, low to the ground vehicles were being obliterated by IEDs (Which is why they brought in the V-hulled MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected)) See: Out of the Cotton and into the Corn for further information and photographic evidence of the aftermath. The MRAPs had amazing survivability in a blast. The occupants were often concussed but able to walk away, most continuing combat operations without medical evaluation (though that should have happened).

We had the capability of listening to Taliban radio transmissions and they knew it, so occasionally they actively communicated with us. That particular day they were adamantly against engagement because we would call in the mosquitos. (Their name for helicopters) One might question the sanity of begging an enemy force to engage in small arms fire while standing in the open. Were we confident of their mindset? Over confident in our capabilities? I didn’t have time to worry about that, I was there for different reasons.

I’d located the IED and was about to begin procedures when this Afghani came walking toward me. I stopped him before he could walk through the scene and ordered him to leave. (This is when I realized security was greatly lacking and Marines were distracted with the freak show the Army was putting on.  

He stood there staring at me and said nothing. The anger and defiance in his eyes told me everything. Words weren’t needed. I repeated the command to leave- no response. I raised my rifle but he remained unaffected. Violence was his vernacular. Had he ever known peace in his lifetime? I revisited this memory many times in the following years. I wondered how I would feel if an invading/occupying army told me I wasn’t allowed to walk down my street to my home.

There was no way I was going to work on the IED with him there. Eventually a strong muzzle thump to the chest was enough to get him to move on- it wasn’t words; it took action. I still see his face, how stone like and unmoved; despite everything that was happening around him, he said nothing.

Which holds more weight- a smart come back to an insult or no response at all? The come back plays into the situation but the silence shifts control in your favor. Veterans believe we have a voice- we fought for the rights that this nation holds dear. The first amendment to the constitution specifically addresses our right not to have our “speech” (words, written or spoken- now even more broadly defined) abridged/censored/edited. Though we feel we have earned our rights while others were just given theirs, that doesn’t mean we need to open fire because someone said “weapons free.” 

Words are weapons- just put that into a search engine and you can read for hours. Almost anyone can pick up a gun and shoot it. It’s the warrior, the professional, who knows when, where, and why- not just how. That’s what makes the difference.

When Jesus was on trial before he was crucified, he was being questioned by Pilate, the Roman governor in that area. This ruler had the power to set him free or to have him killed. Despite the earthly authority this man held and the questions he asked, Jesus gave no response. His silence was powerful. Jesus’s words created the universe. There’s a time and place for everything and when He needed to be, He was silent.
 OVER.

Ecclesiastes
3:7 There is… “a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a
time to speak”

John 19:7-10 “The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because
he called himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was more
frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked
him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to
me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you
or crucify you?” 

John 1:1-4 “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 

 Creating all things- Genesis 1:3,6,9,14,24 “Then God Said…”

 The destruction of the old- Revelation 8:1 “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.” 
 (Shock and Awe in heavenly proportion) 

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Drew OUT.