27 November, Live with Conviction

A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for.

-Howard Hendricks

We claim that we have “strong beliefs” as a nation. 

We believe, and we will argue to the earths end about certain beliefs.  We claim we believe in freedom, but would you die for such a belief?

I think professor Howard Hendricks makes an interesting point. When is a belief not enough? He separates belief from conviction. Conviction is a powerful word; it holds weight, even more weight than belief.

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.”

(James 2:19)

More than a year after starting this website we call Boundless Company, I think it’s proper time to take a step back and address the roots of what our purpose and mission is, and I think that this idea of conviction is powerful in explaining that.

We are a group of people who desire more. We don’t pursue just belief, but aim to live a life of conviction. The principles we preach here - boundlessness, courage, selflessness, boldness, and a desire to be different than the status quo – are more than just beliefs. These are convictions that drive who we are.

12 years ago, our father’s convictions led him to sacrifice his life in order to save many. My dad, Major Troy Lee Gilbert, did not become a hero on November 27, 2006. All he did was make a decision, the same decision that he had made every day for years: to die to himself.

Anyone who knew him would attest to that fact. He didn’t do anything special that day in Iraq. He didn’t even have to make a decision. He lived his life with conviction, and in that moment, it was his nature. Bravery, selflessness, leadership, boldness, boundlessness, etc. He lived with these convictions in training, with his family, with his church, and with his peers, so when it came time to act, there was no hesitation.

Maybe there was fear. We all feel it. But it was out of the question: fear would not come in the way of what had to be done. He disciplined and conditioned himself to do just that. My dad did not just believe in service, it was his conviction.

He didn’t do it for bravery, for his commanding officers, he didn’t even do it for freedom or the flag. My dad acted for his brothers on the ground that day, brothers he didn’t even know.

In the same spirit, we aim to encourage and embolden you to live with conviction. In whatever it is you do, do not just shallowly believe. Go deeper, seek further, live with passion.

 LOVE GREATER.

The commander on the ground that day in Iraq, one of the 22 men that my dad saved, wrote a letter to my family soon after my Dads death.

"I feel that it is important that you know what Troy did to save us from almost certain disaster on that day. My men and I are part of a small special operations element that became outnumbered and outgunned in the Iraqi desert west of Taji. The pending attack would have been absolutely disastrous for us. Troy, however, stopped that from happening. His amazing display of bravery and tenacity broke up the enemy factions and caused them to flee in panic.

"I have never met your husband, but I sensed the warrior spirit in him as he took the fight to the enemy. I sensed his strength of character as he put his life on the line in the defense of others. I sensed his compassion for those who so desperately needed his help. My men and I will never forget the ultimate sacrifice your husband made on November 27, and we will forever be in his debt."

Not long after, the same commander sent a letter to my Dad's Fighter squadron, the 309^th at Luke Air Force Base.

"My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this, as the thoughts and prayers of our unit are with you and with Trojan’s family during this time of grieving. Our entire ground assault force owes Major Gilbert an unpayable debt of gratitude for the actions he took that day. Faced with a crisis situation, we were in dire need of air support to fend off an enemy that had us greatly outnumbered and outgunned. Trojan responded in a calm, collected manner and exuded professionalism and complete control of the situation. We were in a very vulnerable position on the ground and in great danger of having heavy casualties inflicted upon us. Instead of loitering at high altitudes, Trojan came down on the deck and made it very obvious to the enemy that he was gunning for them. They immediately broke their position and began to flee when he started his strafing runs. During these actions, it was obvious to all of us on the ground that he was singlehandedly breaking apart the enemy forces.

"Simply put, Troy saved us from certain heavy casualties on 27 November. We are forever indebted to Trojan because of the valorous actions he took. None of us will forget his sacrifice, and we will always be humbled with the knowledge that he gave his life in our defense."

We have since then had the pleasure of meeting several of the men from that unit. They all refer to my dad as “Frosty” because when he came over the radio during the chaotic fog of war, he was cool, calm, collected, and in control. He was in charge.

After all of that, I leave you with a simple call.

Do not loiter at high altitudes, but come in guns hot and attack life like the warrior that you were created to be. 

Live intentionally and with conviction in all you do, no matter how big or small it seems.