"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." - James 4:8   Long before the trumpet sounded or the dust rose from the battlefield, a Roman soldier spent his quiet hours in preparation. His armor was heavy, crafted from iron and leather, and it required steady care to remain effective. Left unattended in the damp morning air, the metal would begin to rust and the leather would harden and crack. The maintenance was not flashy or dramatic. It was done in silence, long before any enemy...