Provocative last Words!

Lance Corporal Mason Edwards penned a final note during a tour to Afghanistan in case he died in the course of his duty. The 30-year-old soldier was killed on Tuesday night when he was shot in the head during a night-time training exercise using live ammunition in South Australia. He was preparing for his third tour in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Edwards's love for his country and dedication to duty shone through in a pre-deployment memoir, released by the Defence Force this morning.

"I want everyone to know that I love this line of work, the unit and the guys I work alongside," he wrote."We do what we do for many reasons."

"I need little more reason than this - anyone of us could have been born in this country [Afghanistan], but we are the lucky few who enjoy a lifestyle unsurpassed by anyone in the greatest country on Earth [Australia].

Lance Corporal Mason Edwards with his girlfriend Cassie.
Photo: Defence Department

As I read some of Corporal Masons last words I was reminded of the hot debate currently being held in Australia concerning 'illegal immigrants'.

I do not intend to attempt to wade into every argument in a short blog but his compassion for those less fortunate than himself in Afghanistan and his willingness to put his life on the line for people in desperate circumstances is surely a provocation. Our nation of Australia has 22 million people living in it. A huge percentage were born overseas. Given our land mass we can hardly consider ourselves overcrowded. I don't know every circumstance of those prepared to get on a boat and risk life and limb to get here but surely Corporal Masons compassion at least makes you open your heart.

Psalm 41v1 says "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak"

I suppose at the end of the day I selfishly want us as a nation to be blessed because we have regard for the weak.

Yours in Christ
Peter