Semper Fi...Evil Men...Muddy Fields...

The Marines have chosen this slogan, "Semper Fidelis" as their motto. It means, Always Faithful. Not sometimes, not most of the time, but all of the time..."Always Faithful."

In sharp contrast are evil men. For they cannot say that they are faithful to anyone but themselves. They pretend to be faithful. They say they are faithful. Some have even worn the uniform of a Marine but...they do not , nor can they possess this attribute of, "Always Faithful."

These words do, however, apply to dogs in the purest form. The other day as I was walking off a very muddy field with a good friend of mine, all this drifted into my mind. We had just finished training with our dogs in this mud. Good ole' sloppy, squishy, wet , Kentucky mud. This friend of mine, who is very faithful to his dog, could have easily stayed home in the comfort of a dry, warm house. But he knew that spending the day in the mud would benefit his dog...so he came.He is faithful to his dog and in return, his dog is "always faithful" to him.

When a true Marine says, "Semper Fi", it means something. They are not just words with no meaning. When you wake up your dog at 3:00 a.m. to go out in the cold and rain, and he willingly goes without hesitation...this means something. He is showing his faithfulness by being faithful. His day to day actions prove that he is indeed, "Always Faithful."

In my life I have met more than my share of evil men. They were very different in a lot of ways, yet they all shared this same attribute...they were not faithful to anyone or anything. They are like blood sucking parasites that go along with the host for a ride. They get their fill...leave their diseases behind...then they move on. This is what makes them evil.

Yet my dog...your dog will go out on any muddy field and walk with you, thoroughly enjoying himself with only your presence. Ahhh, the simple joy they must feel by being faithful. The contentment they have by serving.

Evil men, on the other hand, never experience this "contentment" from giving, as they are always taking. Not even comprehending that they are only destroying themselves. They do not take heed when GOD says that it is better to give than receive. In the end...they will pay for their deeds.

As for me, give me a faithful dog...a good friend...and a muddy field. God will deal with the evil men.

"SEMPER FI!"