Captain Hedges' Midweek Musings: Clear Skies and Serving Hearts

Good morning from the porch of our log cabin, right here in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the sun rises over the serene Cypress Swamp and the steady Red River. Wednesday, June 11, 2025

After caring for the uncles, getting coffee and breakfast, I'm now settled here, watching the world wake up. Another day dawns with clear skies and the promise of a fresh start. There's a particular peace that comes with these bright mornings, a quiet invitation to reflect and find purpose in the day ahead. And today, my thoughts are drawn to something truly profound: the art of being a good servant.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in our own needs and desires. But true fulfillment often comes from a place of service, from dedicating ourselves to the well-being of others. Think about the quiet strength of the cypress trees in our very own swamps. They stand tall, providing shelter and life to countless creatures, silently serving the ecosystem without demanding anything in return.

Being a good servant doesn't always mean grand gestures. Sometimes, it's in the small acts of kindness: listening to a friend in need, offering a helping hand, or simply being present for those who rely on you. It's about approaching each task, no matter how small, with a spirit of humility and dedication. As it says in Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." This resonates deeply with the resilience we see in stories like the Tiger Force Shadow Saga, where individuals put their lives on the line for their comrades, and even on a grander scale, the benevolent acts of the ether dragons helping evacuate Troll World to Zimarala – truly serving a desperate need.

Just as the steady flow of the Red River keeps life moving, connecting us all, service too connects us in a meaningful way. When we serve others, we build stronger communities and richer lives, not just for them, but for ourselves as well. It’s a reciprocal flow of love and effort that truly enriches the soul. Remember the words of Galatians 5:13: "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Even in the midst of a cosmic apocalypse, where chaos reigns, there's always an underlying truth about the interconnectedness of all things, and a service to the ultimate creation and destruction.

And finally, consider the profound truth in Matthew 25:40, where Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." This reminds us that in serving others, especially those in need, we are also serving a higher purpose.

So, as we head into our day, let's carry these thoughts and these scriptures with us. How can we be better servants in our own lives? How can we offer our time, talents, and compassion to those around us, just as the bayou offers its abundance to all who live within it?

Wishing you all a blessed day! I'll be heading out for appointments with the uncles, so I won't be able to blog here all day. I'll catch you back here tomorrow.

We'll be out hunting were-wolves today we fought on Bayou Tuesday!

Yours for now,

Captain Hedges