Gulab

~Marcus Lutrell with Muhammed Gulab~

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends."

John 15: 12-13 NKJV 

"To break a Navy SEAL, you have to kill us.  That's why we can make it into our training, that's why we can call ourselves SEAL's because the only way you're gonna' break us is to kill us."
~Marcus Lutrell~

There is a region in Eastern Afghanistan and Northwestern Pakistan which some have claimed is a land which time has forgotten.  It is here, in the shadows of the Hindu Kush mountains, that a fiercely proud and independent people have lived for thousands of years.  The indigenous Pashtun people who inhabit this corner of the world have been residing, fighting and dying far from the notice of the outside world for generations.  This is the way of the Pashtun.  Tribal, tight knit, every man a warrior, every man a politician.  It was into this no mans land that four United States Navy SEAL's were inserted on June 27, 2005.  Their mission, to recon a village known to be used by a local bad man by the name of Ahmad Shah.  Shah being well known to United States and coalition forces as a major Taliban player in the instability of Afghanistan.  The stage was set, modern military technology against ancient tribal customs.  For the next three weeks, the United States grappled with the forces of Ahmad Shah, and paid dearly for their efforts.  When it was over, 19 U.S. troops lost their lives with one remaining wounded.  Although Ahmad Shah eventually escaped into the security of Pakistan, Taliban losses were reported in the range of 35 - 40 killed in action.  It was that lone United States Navy SEAL wounded survivor of what became known as the "Battle of Abbas Ghar" who would become to focus of one of the most intense search and rescue operations in modern history and a major motion picture.

Pashtunwali {Pashto} ~ Or "Pakhtunwali" is a non-written ethical code and traditional lifestyle which the indigenous Pashtun people follow.  It is a system of law and governance that began in prehistoric times and is preserved and still in use today, mostly in rural tribal areas.
~Wikipedia~

Mohammed Gulab has lived his entire life in the tribal regions of Eastern Afghanistan.  Had it not been for the battle of Abbas Ghar, the Taliban and one lone surviving Navy SEAL, he would have lived his life there in animinity as his ancestors had done for thousands of years before him.  Enter United States Navy SEAL Marcus Lutrell.  When Gulab came across Marcus Lutrell on the slopes of the mountain Sawtalo Sar in the Hindu Kush, Marcus was most certainly near death.  Having been shot numerous times, pierced with shrapnel and suffering a broken back from falling down that mountain to escape the pursuing Taliban, what Marcus Lutrell endured may have well indeed killed any other man.  In fact, three of his SEAL team members already lay dead on this hill.  But, as they these men so often say among themselves in times of stress and battle, "This is why we're SEAL's!"  Whatever the case, had it not been for Mohammed Gulab, Marcus Lutrell may well have died on that hell of a mountain.  Instead, religiously following his centuries old Pashtunwali code of conduct, Gulab rescued the Navy SEAL and took him with him to his village, knowing full well that Taliban troops were following.  Once temporarily safe in the village, Gulab cared for Marcus as he alerted United States forces of the location of their injured comrade.  With the help of Mohammed Gulab, Marcus Lutrell was eventually rescued, and a deep bond between the two continues to this day.
Some may wonder just what christianity and the Pashtunwali code have in common.  I wondered that same thing.  However, I did see similarities in what our Lord calls us to do unto others and that of this ancient ethical code.  For part of this Pashtunwali code also requires a man to provide for and  protect a guest in his village from all enemies at any cost.  THIS is the code that Muhammed Gulab followed.  Seeking no military victory or political office, Gulab gave Marcus Lutrell the gift of love and kindness.  And after all, isn't that what we as christians are also called to do unto others as well?  Thank you Gulab.

~Scott~