“March 5, 1836, Colonel William Barrett Travis had known for several days his situation inside the old Spanish mission called the Alamo had become hopeless.
Several thousand soldiers under the command of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had Travis and some 189 other defenders surrounded. The young Texas colonel – only 26 – was a lawyer, not a professional military man, but Travis knew enough history to understand that in a siege, the army on the outside usually prevails over the army on the inside. So he gathered his fellow defenders that Saturday afternoon and gave them a speech. “We must die,” he began. “Our business is not to make a fruitless effort to save our lives, but to choose the manner of our death.”
He saw three possibilities: Surrender and summary execution, trying to fight their way out only to be killed by lancers, or remain in the fort.
Then, with a flourish, Travis drew his sword and slowly marked a line in the dirt. “I now want every man who is determined to stay here and die with me to come across this line.”
Young Tapley Holland made his decision quickly, proclaiming “I am ready to die for my country” as he jumped over the line. It’s hard to picture it as a stampede – the men knew they were voting to die – but all but two of them walked over the line. Co-commander Jim Bowie, lying sick on a cot, asked some of his men to carry him across. Only Louis Moses Rose, a French soldier of fortune, remained behind. That night, Rose slipped out of the Alamo and managed to make it through the enemy lines. He ended up in Louisiana and supposedly lived until 1850.
Every Texan knows what happened the morning after Rose made his escape. In the predawn of March 6, Santa Anna’s forces breached the walls and killed every Texas combatant.
What is irrefutable is the story of Travis drawing a line with his sword – be it truth or legend – gave Texas, America and eventually, the world, one of its most enduring metaphors.” ~ Mike Cox
“It is a line that not all the piety or wit of research will ever blot out. It is a grand canyon cut into the bedrock of human emotions and historical impulses.”
~ J. Frank Dobie
A line-in-the-sand is a powerful truth. Many times taking a courageous stand will come at a very high price. Christ took a courageous stand for all mankind and went to the cross, shed His innocent blood that man would have the hope of eternal life, if we are obedient to His Word. Will you take a courageous stand, draw your line-in-the-sand and forsake all the things which hinder you from obeying the Truth of His Word? Even if your courageous stand ultimately means giving up a high paying job, family or friends to follow Him? Will you make a stand for the cause of Christ, or will you be as a Rose and make your way through to the enemy lines to save yourself and ultimately lose your soul? The choice is up to you.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
“The enemies you make by taking a decided stand generally have more respect for you than the friends you make by being on the fence.” ~ Kisssinger
Eileen Light