Chaos-Opportunity or Both

The world Lucca had grown up in was no more. The change was as gradual as his transformation from a young boy to a man. There was limited chaos during his formative years, at least none that his parents couldn’t protect him from. Lucca remained shielded from the daily struggles of keeping a job, paying monthly rent, and buying groceries. Occasionally, he would overhear his parents discussing situations that bothered them, but as long as he got to play with his friends and eat when he was hungry, none of it mattered. War and politics were things adults dealt with, not five-year-olds.

Self-awareness and consciousness of the world around him blossomed simultaneously, upon reaching his mid-teens. Lucca’s childhood interests and fantasies were shoved aside by the realities of the world around him. Regional wars, protests, crooked politicians, and a failing economy led him to ask his parents what was going on and why wasn’t anyone trying to fix things. Their stock answer of, “That’s just how the world is,” wasn’t a response that satisfied him. He couldn’t understand why people didn’t change things, so the world would be a better place. It was frustrating.

By the time Lucca was twenty, the regional wars had morphed into a global conflict. Under the new laws, joining the military was mandatory, and he was drafted into the army. The war had already created mass destruction over much of the earth by the time Lucca was forced into the fray. The governments that had created all of this civilization-smashing destruction had rapidly crumbled into ash, leaving chaos to rule in their absence. Warlords governed what remained of civilization, with each faction doing everything they could to gain dominance over the other.

It was during a skirmish between two rival potentates that Lucca was forced into a large, partially destroyed building to avoid capture. Books were strewn haphazardly in every direction. One title caught his attention: The Art of War by Sun Tzu. He placed it in his rucksack for future inspection, assuming he made it out alive. The battle raged around him, but his location remained undiscovered. Later that evening, Lucca began reading his latest acquisition.

The book was filled with quotes by a man who lived over two thousand years ago, but they could easily apply to today’s world. There was one quote that immediately applied to his current situation: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” Lucca studied the quote for some time, trying to understand its full meaning. In the meantime, the skirmish raged on around his sanctuary. It appeared the enemy was winning when an opportunity presented itself. If he could create enough chaos among the enemy, his colleagues should be able to gain the advantage and secure a win.

The library was now behind the enemies’ position, and they had no idea Lucca was there. He climbed to what was left of the rooftop, dragging his weapon and as many books as possible with him. As the enemy troops passed underneath his perch, Lucca would toss a book off the roof, distracting the enemy. The puzzled reaction of the enemy below gave Lucca just enough time to fire at his adversaries while remaining hidden. Chaos erupted below, allowing his comrades to regain their advantage and eventually win the battle.

“The Art of War” became Lucca’s bible. He memorized Sun Tzu’s tactics and philosophies, rapidly advancing his status within the ranks. The warlord he served began calling on him for advice in both battle and diplomacy. Lucca never revealed the source of his wisdom, preferring to let his comrades wonder in amazement at his skills. Eventually, because of Lucca’s guidance, his warlord became the first to re-unify what was a country. It was all because of the opportunity one man found amid chaos.