Obedience

There is the story of the young Army officer in World War I who was graduated as a second lieutenant a year ahead of time because officers were needed desperately. This young man, who had barely begun to shave and looked even younger than his age, was assigned to command a platoon of seasoned infantry veterans. It was still dark the first morning when he assembled the ranks of his new command. He called the platoon to attention and, immediately, a voice from the rear ranks rang out with a passage from the Book of Isaiah: “And a little child shall lead them.” “The man who said that take once pace forward,” the lieutenant commanded. Whereupon the entire platoon took once pace forward. “As you were,” said the young officer. The men took one pace back and things returned to normal. That evening, as was the custom, members of the platoon checked the company bulletin board to learn what they were to do the next…