Given my interest in all things historical it came as no surprise to be given a copy of Christopher Simon Sykes’ highly illuminating biography of his grandfather Sir Mark Sykes. Sykes is the man who gave his name to the famous (or infamous!) agreement that was drawn up in 1916 to determine the division of the Ottoman Empire if the Allies won the war. I’ve been fascinated by this agreement ever since I learned of it when pursuing my undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies, and I must admit ‘The Man who created the Missile East’ is a fascinating read.

It is an amusing read too. I was particularly struck by the story Sykes tells of his grandfather’s encounter with the short-sighted military authorities he served under. It seems that the ever-inventive Sykes came up with the clever idea of camouflaging field guns. The British army was well used to camouflaging uniforms but not field guns, and Sykes discovered that the most effective way to hide them was to daub them in streaks of colours taken from gamebirds.

He certainly impressed the press it seems with the correspondent of the Daily Express noting that the experiments which had taken place at Aldershot had proved his case to be true ‘in a remarkable degree’ and a reporter for the Daily News foreseeing great possibilities for the future. He did not have the same impact on the artillery officers though.

Convinced he was on to a winner, he invited some of the top brass to see for themselves in the training camp at Aldershot. He was highly successful because none of the officers could locate six guns at a distance of 3000 yards even though they were given field glasses and were told the direction in which they were to look! Finally, Sykes gave up and told a man to show ‘one of the scornful’ officers where the gun was placed. His response was as ridiculous as it was depressing. I quote Mark Sykes: “The fool then said ‘It’s an awfully clever trick don’t you know, but of course it is quite impractical. How could they march past if no one could see the guns? Haw, haw, haw’.” And that’s how the credit for inventing camouflage to disguise field guns went to the French 12 years later! How short-sighted can you be?

I often think this when I reflect on the way people react to the Christian faith. We are living in an increasingly post-Christian culture and it is all-too tempting to dismiss it with a condescending smile and not give it the serious attention it deserves. I did that but I was challenged to consider the evidence seriously and to test it myself. Far from finding it preposterous I found it compelling and that has led to the adventure of a lifetime.

Jesus once told His disciples that He could give them the kind of life that would go way beyond their expectations. They took Him at His word and discovered He was not kidding. I did the same which is why I spend my life telling others to do it too. I hope you are not too short sighted to give it some serious attention either.