Perspective

In June 1942, the United States Navy was on its heels. We had suffered the devastating defeat at Pearl Harbor, and lost the Philippines and Wake Island. Malaya and Singapore had also fallen. The US base on the island of Midway was the western-most US-held island in the Pacific. To conquer Midway would give the Japanese near total control over the Pacific.

At this crucial battle, the United States Navy faced off against a much larger navy and one swollen with the success of preceding battles. The US had 3 aircraft carriers against 6 Japanese carriers; zero battleships to match up with 7 for the Japanese; and 25 support ships against 56.

On June 4, 1942, the US Navy located the Japanese task force. One aspect of the attack called for a coordinated attack by all three US aircraft carriers -- their torpedo bombers would attack low, the dive bombers would attack high, and the fighters would defend.

Unfortunately, as often happens in war, the attack didn't go as planned. The torpedo bombers, the slowest and largest of the aircraft, attacked first - alone. Coming in low, they began their attack runs -- locking in to straight-line attacks on the Japanese ships. The Japanese gunners and fighters wreaked havoc. Of the 43 torpedo bombers that launched that day, each with a crew of two, only six survived. One squadron, Torpedo 8 from the USS Hornet, lost all 15 aircraft -- 29 men. Only one man survived. Not one torpedo struck a Japanese ship. Not one Japanese aircraft was shot down. It seemed, by all accounts, that their sacrifice had been utterly in vain.

If the story ended here, it would have been one of the worst defeats in US naval aviation history -- 37 of 43 aircraft lost. At least 74 men killed. And not one hit made, not one enemy plane downed. But this was not the end. The last of the torpedo plane attacks ended at approximately 10am. The day was far from over.

Because all three torpedo squadrons attacked at basically the same time and with no air cover, all the Japanese fighters tasked with protecting the fleet were drawn down to contend with the slow moving, low flying bombers. The Japanese fleet had broken its defensive formation in successful attempts to dodge the American torpedoes. Believing that the attacks were over, the Japanese commanders ordered all their aircraft to be brought top-side, fueled and armed for a counterattack against the US fleet.

About 30 minutes later, the US dive bombers arrived. Coming in at high altitude they found that there was little Japanese resistance -- fighters had been drawn down to contend with the torpedo planes and gunners were still scanning the horizon for more attackers. Each dive bomber identified their targets, and proceeded to loose their bombs on the Japanese carriers -- each with decks crowded with fully armed and fueled aircraft.

When the battle was all said and done, all four of the larger Japanese fleet carriers and a cruiser were destroyed. Every single Japanese aircraft (248) was ultimately lost. The Japanese lost as many aircrew in one day as their pre-war training program had turned out in a year. The US Navy lost one carrier, one destroyer, and less than 100 aircraft. It was a devastating defeat for the Japanese which has led the Battle of Midway to be called the turning point in the war in the Pacific.

In retrospect, the sacrifice of the US torpedo bombers was credited with clearing the way for the US dive bombers. And the dive bombers, as a result, were able to eliminate all four of the Japanese fleet carriers. Taken alone, the loss of the torpedo planes was a tragic waste. But seen in the bigger picture, it was key in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific.

I write of this because in my life these days, with financial, job and family issues, it sometimes seems as if nothing I'm doing is making a difference. In fact, it can seem as though I'm actually moving backwards. It's a discouraging, difficult and even painful feeling. But one thing I have to keep reminding myself is that "the day isn't over yet." I have to keep reminding myself that what may, at the moment, seem like a major defeat, could actually be paving the way for a major victory of sorts. I don't know. But my Commander, my God, does know. His is a perspective that no man could ever hope to have. And while I'm sure there are decisions I have made, things I have done, and things that my wife and I did as a couple, that were not what He ideally wanted for us -- He can still use those things to produce a greater good if I/we are open to being used by Him for His purposes.

The problem with us humans is that our world revolves around us. We want the credit, the glory and the attention. But the first thing that a new recruit learns in the military is that there is no "you". There is only the team. Each exists for the other for the greater good of the whole. This is the root of heroism -- putting the interests of others before one's self. This is what led the men of Torpedo 8 to do what they did, even as they saw their shipmates crashing into the ocean around them. God calls us to put Him first. His glory, His desires, His will, His plans -- for our good.

In short, my point, to myself and to you, is this -- don't be discouraged by "today." Today is temporary and fleeting and ultimately leads to tomorrow. And tomorrow is only influenced by our yesterdays, not determined by them. Only God determines what our tomorrow will be. We must focus our eyes not upon today, or yesterday, or what we think tomorrow will be, but upon Him and only Him. What seem to be our worst defeats may lead to our greatest triumphs. Our greatest mistakes can lead to our greatest successes. The God who formed a living man from simple dirt is not limited by our mortal perspective. And if we are bold enough to put our faith in Him and in His plans, neither is our future limited or for naught.

Perspective -- whose will you follow? That of mortal and time-constrained man? Or that of Eternal and Almighty God?

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9

"Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

Job 38 -- The Lord speaks to Job