Thoughts on Stoles, Services, and the Army Life... // May 7, 2007

This morning, I had the privilege of conducting a field service for a Field Artillery unit that is having their Annual Training here at Ft Stewart. If you remember, I am still in the National Guard, though I am mobilized at Ft Stewart. Its not required of me, the State doesn't order me to do it, but I help out CH Owings (GA State Chaplain) when there is a unit that needs Chaplain coverage when there on Post.

I never give up an opportunity to have a service.

Today, incidentally, is one of the extremely few times I have conducted a service without a chaplain assistant. I really miss having one! I think every pastor has their "pre-service warm up time" mine involves meeting as many people in the audience that I can. I try to make contact with folks and hear something about them. It helps me get in a mindset to gear my preaching to where they are at. This particular unit had one of their companies put on alert to go over soon. Some had only just heard. There was a great deal of stress built up in that small day room this morning. Since I did not have an assistant with me, I had to set up my kit myself and try to meet people while doing it.

I've taken to wearing a stole when I do field services. Its not really in my tradition to use clergy vestments but I have found that I really like wearing it, especially in the field environment. When everyone is in uniform, its nice to be able to pick the chaplain out of the crowd because he or she has their stole on. If there is any piece of equipment that I regret not having taken to Iraq it was my dress stole that I was issued. The Army issued me two when I graduated from Chaplain School. I got this small, camo, nylon thing in my chaplain kit. Its more or less useless. Its so light that any movement at all (and I tend to have a good bit of movement in my services...) will cause the thing to blow up in your face and it your not careful, I've had the thing blow off on several occasions. Besides that, its woodland camo - not exactly the latest fashion in the urban combat look these days. So, I abandoned it for the most part. Today I wore my other issue stole, it's the dress version that is issued. Its black on one side and white on the other. Its long enough to come to my knees and has the Army emblem on the bottom above the gold tassels. I really like it, its heavy enough to stay put and really sets the tone when I put it on. I have not actually worn it in church, sometimes it takes a bit to make wherever I am into a sanctuary. Any little bit helps! I am looking for a new one though, one that long enough, heavy enough and machine washable since (like today) it gets all sweaty and dusty in the field! There is a new ACU version coming out, but I feel like - why where a stole that blends in to the uniform? What's the point of that! I don't wear it so it'll blend in... I wear it to show - from a distance - that I'm the chaplain!

I have held services outside of dirt burms, off the backs of Bradley Fighting Vehicles, bombed out buildings, makeshift prisons surrounded by Iraqi detainees, in the filth of an Iraqi Army Outpost, tents, chow halls, day rooms.... Anything I can do to make an atmosphere more sacred feeling I will!

My father is a minister with the Disciples of Christ and he, his pastor and the elders of his church did an outreach during Easter where they held a short service and served communion to those who came by on their lunch break. Some people didn't appreciate it too much I guess. I do it all the time. I go to the soldiers where they are at and help them come the cross when they can. I know, it's a hard thing to accept for some people. They don't understand the church is people. I grew up in a time when the sanctuary was a sacred place, you didn't go in there and mess around. It was quiet and open. I have always endeavored to make any chapel I have ministered in a place of quiet refuge from the noise of life. However, I have also had to make a cramped space, stinking of unwashed detainees in the rooms surrounding it, a place of refuge for the few soldiers that manned it 24/7. I came during their lunch hour and the service was always brief. Its not about "fitting God in where you can," its about making time for God in a world that is quickly shutting Him out.

My wife and I did one of those exhausting runs up to Atlanta for an overnighter. We went to a banquet at Grace Christian Academy for its Juniors and Seniors. It was so awesome to sit with them and see how they are becoming what I thought they would. Its so exciting to hear of their plans, hopes and dreams. I pray for each one, even still. Two of my students (soccer players) are even planning on joining the Army. I wish them the best. What a life. My wife and I talked about it all the way home.

To choose the Army is to choose to accept a change is what is "normal." On a daily basis I hear about what families do to "make it work." The odd arrangements, the separations, the techniques of staying close in a world intent of tearing them apart. Normal is different. I think nothing of hearing that a soldier's family lives, not just in another state, but across the nation. Hey, if your gonna move that much, you might as well put roots down somewhere. Its not normal, but its Army normal. What other occupation demands that you leave for years at a time? It's a hard life, but you adapt, you adjust and find a way that works for you.

Choosing the Army is a family choice. Its something you have to come to as a family unit. Originally, I chose the Army - the second time around, it was Sara and my decision - together. That's what it has to be - a choice that you make together. To ignore that is to set yourself up for failure. I meet soldiers constantly that did not do this. One of two things happen. If, for instance, the wife is not on board with the decision, she will make it so difficult for him that he will eventually quit the Army. Only, the Army was what he always wanted to do, so now he's stuck in a job that he hates. She doesn't get why he's miserable all the time, and he sees her as the being selfish and dragging him away from his dreams. The Army has to be a family decision.

Choosing the Army is choosing the lifestyle. The most content soldiers (and families) Sara and I have met are those that embraced the Army lifestyle. There are those that feel that they have to do EVERYTHING off base. They don't partake in the support options, the free stuff, the family programs - and then complain that the Army doesn't take care of them! That's a recipe for frustration if I ever heard one!

The Army is a great life if you want to make it that. But then, any life you choose can be a great life if you make it that. I loved teaching. I plan to go back to teaching when I retire from the Army. I don't believe that God's call is something that you just have that "one thing" that you do and it trumps all else. I believe that God's call is more or less general and you are to be faithful in the place where your talents and desires meet. I believe that God called me to this ministry; Sara believes that God has called US to this ministry - armed with that, we can make any place a home...