The Journey from War to Peace
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace
Ecclesiastes 3:8
Many of our war veterans, even though outwardly living in the warmth and quietness of their homes in America, or in open spaces under relatively peaceful city bridges, are still inwardly fighting the Vietcong in the deadly jungles, hills, and rice fields of Vietnam.
Many of our heroes who once bravely battled the insurgents in the streets and market places of Baghdad and Mosul are still battling fierce wars within their souls and minds.
They’re in perpetual physical, emotional, and spiritual battles for peace, rest, and victory within.
Many of America’s veterans have risked their lives in some of the world’s worst and bloodiest battle fronts. Yet, even though they’ve left the war zones behind, the war zones have not yet left their minds and hearts.
Their war still rages on.
Our Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan fierce combat veterans often say the 
wars they fought oceans away, hard as they were, are often not as overwhelming as the wars of worries about the future, anxieties about jobs and finances, fears, guilt, PTSD, depression, bottled anger, and the formidable challenges of trying to fit in society as citizens.
Our veterans, many physically and emotionally wounded and scarred, need help beyond money and gifts, great sounding political slogans, a holiday in their honor, or momentary expressions of patriotism and gratefulness by our nation. What they most need is the healing and restoration of their hearts and minds.
What their souls need can’t be found in monetary abundance, in the temporary effects of chronic pain pills, or in more legislated rules and regulations that desperately attempt to please and fulfill every veteran’s want and desire regardless of the untoward consequences.
Friend, this inner healing of a veteran’s heart can only occur when our society as a whole and America’s medical providers in particular begin to take care of our wounded veterans
The God Way.
The God Way is about taking care of every veteran, and all of our society’s sick and broken, with genuine care, love and compassion. It’s about investing time on the well-being and healing of each broken and wounded heart, and not on the financial rewards, bonuses, and gains that each veteran and patient would bring.
The God Way comes alive when we as medical providers are equipped and encouraged by those in authority over us to spend time and treat veterans, and all patients, not as numbers but as God’s wonderful creation. Not as bodies and souls plagued by physical and emotional diseases, but as individuals with needs much like yours and mine.
An Iraq war combat veteran once shared with me his dream and aspiration of finishing college despite all his war related physical and emotional hardships. To care for him The God Way simply meant I would have but one motive which is to genuinely and compassionately care for him and dedicate ample time to the healing of his body, mind and spirit. Not to treat him as a number, a source of added bonus, or a financial asset but to treat him the way I want to be treated.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
Adel Gobran Hanna, M.D.
Author: Soldier to Soldier, Heart to Heart
A Doctor’s Stories from a Military Camp
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