Right at the time of writing, Mark Tronson has noted that there is publicity and public comment about another wave of refugees attempting to arrive on rickety boats. Some of these people are reported to be from Afghanistan, where one parliamentarian commented, we have young men risking their lives to make it a safer place for these people to stay.
Others are allegedly from Sri Lanka, where, of course, we have no such national interest. Others may be from other countries. Some may be trying to leave temporary camps in interim countries, such as Indonesia.
Are these people simply 'running away'?
In the situation described above, there could be numerous reasons why families leave their own country. Can you imagine packing up your family without your treasured possessions or your monthly income, and just going 'on the move'? Can you imagine sending your sons or nephews away to an unknown future, hoping they have a better life .... somewhere?
People have moved in this manner since time immemorial; even before the Exodus described in the Bible. Their reasons for leaving might include religious persecution, political life threatening issues, poor or changed economic circumstances, the trauma of war; there could be several of these reasons (or others) all mixed in together.
There are many other situations where 'running away' is deemed a legitimate manoeuvre to gain an advantage further down the track; it is a commonly used strategy in business decisions, political moves, church politics, in fact, throughout all the society.
In particular, those who study the history of war or individual battles will know that it is often said that a battle was lost but the war was won. In other words, a strategic decision was made to 'run away' and then to come back into the fray from a different angle and at a different time. Those who play war games (even chess) will know that this technique is employed over and over again.
Mark Tronson claims that the apparently victorious side who stood their ground while the opposition fell back to regroup, are often short lived. "Those who are initially victorious often find themselves having to defend their victory."
Jesus Himself said to his followers that when certain signs of the times appear, run to the hills.
Missionaries through all the ages can tell stories of such 'running away' scenarios, where withdrawal was the better part of valour in recognising the dangers of persecution and even death, and with this strategic mission analysis, they were able to continue their evangelism another day.
"Moreover, it has been shown over and over again," M V Tronson says, "that what the victors end up with is only 'fool's gold'."
Running away, M V Tronson says, can be a much wiser and thoughtful course of action with longer term much better outcomes, than facing a far mightier and more than often devious enemy.
While acknowledging there are times to stand and fight, nonetheless, we can see this exact 'running away' strategy in the Bible. David ran away from Saul and was later anointed King. Likewise the Apostle Paul escaped in a basket from the city wall of Damascus to avoid certain death and later became the great evangelist.
Mark Tronson advocates that when people are in a 'sticky' situation where they would like to stand and fight, but there may be undesired consequences, that they should take counsel from these pieces in the Bible, and 'count to ten' to reflect on an alternative strategy.
Like David and Paul, they may gain more advantage by 'running away' to regroup their resources, to enable them 'stand and fight another day'; but to fight a more reasoned and rational battle.