What does the name Ticonderoga mean to you? For one, the little girl in me thinks it’s just a fun name to say! But, more than that, it is a name that plays a part in the heritage we all share as Americans. In early 1776 the American colonists were beginning their campaign for independence. One of their first notable victories was chasing the British from the fortified city of Boston. At that time amunition was in short supply for the colonial army. The success of that venture is justly credited to the fact that the colonial army had recently acquired many cannons, thanks to the vision of a man named Henry Knox. He was a commander in the army under General Washington who had the vision to see how having the cannons would bolster the strength of the army. He took a very long journey from where his troops were stationed outside of Boston to Fort Ticonderoga, on Lake Champain near the New York, Vermont border. He knew the former French fort was still supplied with cannons following the French and Indian war which ended in 1763. The trek was long and difficult during the cold winter months, transporting the large, heavy cannons took patience and creative engineering. At one point near the end of the journey, Knox had waited for a river to freeze so they could cross it safely. Despite their tests of the ice, one of the four heavy cannons broke through the ice and sunk in the river. Can you imagine the feelings at that moment? They had invested so much time, effort, and heart in this venture and they watched the ice crack and the heavy cannon sink and could do nothing about it. They stayed and with much effort were able to retrieve the cannon. Because of the investment and vision of Knox and his troops, the outcome of the possession of Boston changed. It was one small effort that influenced one small outcome in one large war, but could it have made a big difference at that time in history?
Some possible applications:
**What are the cannons in our life? The things that are not given to us but that we have to sacrifice our time, effort, and heart to make a part of our life? How can those spiritual, emotional, and relational resources make a big difference in our battle against Satan?
**Have you ever had a cannon break through the ice in your life? Just when you think things are on the home stretch they shatter. How do those moments feel? What choices do we have in those moments?
**How can large battles turn on small events? What can we do to have the vision to see what the small fortifications for our children and our families can be?
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