Jacob Miller is a powerful example of accountability and independence. September 19, 1863, Private Jacob Miller was shot between the eyes at the battle of Chicamauga. His picture comes up as one of the most common in medical searches related to the Civil War. He tried to push his eye back in place and the bones of his head together, tying them up with a bandana. He had to hold his eye open with his finger to see where to go. He was left for dead on the battlefield, got to the aid station on his own, and was left for dead again there. He left the aid station under his own power to follow the army because he didn’t want to be a prisoner. Two ambulances passed him by and a third picked him up. The ride in the ambulance was so painful that he got out and walked. Surgeons refused to help him until he finally convinced one. Buckshot fell out of the wound 17 years later and other debri fell out 33 years later. He lived to the ripe old age of 88. 

Why tell this story? This man is an example of independence, fierce independence. He needed help and pursued it. He went to the aid station and to the hospital beyond. He talked a doctor into working on him when others avoided the challenge. He did not operate as a self sufficient person who needed no one. He was independent.

Nowhere in his story did it indicate that he blamed anyone or felt sorry for himself. He was in the situation he was in and had to deal with it to the best of his ability. His ability, in my opinion, far surpassed anything I think I could do. I feel like I would have stayed on the battlefield feeling terrible and sorry for myself to a point that I might well have waited beyond any help anyone could provide. 

Entitlement is a terrible word in our country today. Entitlement and privilege are connected because both are the belief that someone is deserving of some kind of right or benefit for whatever reason, legal, emotional, social, financial, or other. Entitlement tends to put the belief on others to provide or give. It has a layer of helplessness in it because many who feel entitled have done nothing to earn it or deserve it. Many say that our students are acting as though they are entitled instead of being accountable. Accountable is the opposite of entitlement because accountable takes responsibility to itself instead of putting it on others. Miller was accountable, not entitled. He was independently motivated to go forward, not dependent to wait on others. 

Miller threw no pity party at the realization of his situation. He gathered himself to do the best he could and get the help he needed. Assessing a situation and choosing to take action without waiting on others or blaming others is a true act of independence and accountability. He is a great example for me.

Jesus gave us earthly examples we could relate to when He explained heavenly values and principles. He talked about sheep to shepherds. He gave common examples of prejudice and bigotry in ways that the bigots could understand, often making the most hated the example of good. Miller is a good story which truly exemplifies accountability and independence. It also is a great story of courage.

How does this relate to me? All of us have been wounded on the battlefield of life. I was an alcoholic. Until Jesus put me in the place where I had to accept accountability for my actions, I was dependent and lived as a slave to my addiction. Accountability freed me to be independent and move in the direction of the aid station and the hospital beyond. I am grateful every day for the freedom Jesus has provided for me. I highly recommend Jesus, accountability, and independence.