Into the Fray

If you haven't seen "The Grey" starring Liam Neeson, you should. It is story that grips the soul and refuses to let go. The Grey depicts a great struggle for survival, the human condition, existence of God, and strength of will. While there are some glaring issues involving the reality of the major plot elements, it it well done and the flaws do not detract from the message. A word of warning: It earns it's R-rating for it's language and depictions of violence. Remember, the best stories hit you in the gut and leave questions to answer.

That being said, I will not spoil the movie by quoting a poem used in the movie:

Once more into the fray... 

Into the last good fight I'll ever know... 

To live and die on this day... 

To live and die on this day...

For those who follow the path of Bushido, these words have a deep meaning.  No mention of victory or defeat is made. For a warrior, the glory isn't in victory: It is in the fight itself. To truly live means to face death with a smile and an indomitable spirit. The result of the battle becomes much less significant when the battle is fought for the right reasons. Death becomes a simple consequence of doing the things that must be done.  The last lines of a quote attributed to Tecumseh sums Bushido up very well: 

"When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

For most people this sentiment may be meaningless and indecipherable and perhaps that is where it should be left.