As Americans, we have a strange fascination for the nation from which we declared our independence in 1776: England. From trying our hand at a fake British accent to being enthralled with the Royals and events at Buckingham Palace, we just can’t seem to satisfy our curiosity. Perhaps it’s the ceremony, pomp, fanfare, and formality that draws us in. There is certainly a grace and prestige full of stilted mannerisms in their proceedings that we seem to lack in America.
As I was digging for a story for today, I ran across an article from grunge.com titled Weird Rules British Military Guards Must Follow. “The British military guard is a group that probably needs very little introduction. There’s no doubt you’ve seen them before: the red-clad soldiers with the tall, fluffy black hats who stand outside of royal residences and refuse to smile, even as tourists wander up to them for selfies and the like. Whether you’ve been to London or not, there’s no doubt you’ve seen these soldiers, their iconic uniforms, and their even more iconic, stoic demeanors. They’re so well known that plenty of visitors more or less think of them as tourist attractions in their own right.”1
When you consider some of the rules they must follow, you wonder why anyone would sign up for this gig! For instance, consider their uniforms. The long-sleeved coats are made of red Melton cloth made of wool. The cuffs and collar are velvet. The trousers are also made of wool. The hat is 18-inches tall and made from the hide of a bear. Imagine wearing this uniform on a hot day. You’re already getting woozy just thinking about it, aren’t you?
Well, if you are a soldier and you start feeling faint, you MUST faint at attention. That means falling face first. No tottering to the sides or buckling. Arms must still be to the side. Many soldiers who pass out will inevitably break their nose and bust up their front teeth.
Speaking of those hats, the soldier cares for them just like his own head of hair. They are shampooed, sometimes while the soldier wears them in the shower! Once they have air dried, they are brushed and fluffed.
As a strict rule, while on duty, a soldier cannot go to the bathroom. If they are unable to hold it, they will wet themselves. “Guardsman Shaun Marsden has even admitted, “You might get a few little puddles.” Fortunately, their dark pants hide things like that pretty well, should it ever come to that.”2
Looking at the guard, you will notice they never smile, move, or speak. That’s the rule. The only exception is to shout, “Make way” if a tourist is blocking their path. Also, if a tourist tries to touch them or their horse, the guard is allowed to yell at them, reprimanding them for their breach of etiquette. If this doesn’t get the point across, they are allowed to brandish their bayonet-tipped rifle.
There are many other rules that are strange and restrictive. However, serving in this position is considered a great honor. Knowing what is required doesn’t deter the soldier from pursuing the privilege to stand watch over His Majesty’s palace, royal gates, or to serve at royal functions.
If people are willing to sacrifice like this to serve His Majesty the King, why isn’t the church more willing to sacrifice to serve His Majesty, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Instead, to hear some Christians talk, they bemoan all they’ve had to “give up” as a believer. Wouldn’t you think that since we are royalty through The King that we would consider it a duty, honor, and privilege to sacrifice our all?
We are reminded in 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath 
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” Wow! What an awesome calling!!
The next words Peter speaks are, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you”. As I close today’s devotional, I’ll give you the rest of the verse. Before I do, though, consider the word “beseech.” We typically hear that this means “beg.” Peter says, “I beg you. I strongly implore you. I couldn’t ask this of you in any stronger language.” When you read the rest of the verse, I hope it strikes you sad that Peter would have to beg the people to do what every child of the King should already be doing.
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (12) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
1https://www.grunge.com/1672156/weird-rules-british-military-guards-follow/
2Ibid.
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
