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Déjà
Vu
Here we go again! Last year at this time I was sitting in the same I MEF Chaplain's Office
at Camp Pendleton, watching as my fellow chaplains go into harms way alongside
the Marines we love and serve. I am part of what is referred to as the
Remain Behind Element (RBE). Another way of looking at it would be to
acknowledge that someone has to stay home and mind the store. That's me.
Again. But before I get too comfortable, I also know that even though I missed
the heavy fighting in Iraq last year, I still wound up being deployed
to Kuwait and Iraq right after the fighting was declared over. Then I
was sent to Djibouti, Africa for seven months. My boss on the reserve
side commented to me today that I have probably been deployed more than
anyone else has. So, I'm not unpacking all my stuff just yet. In fact,
we have a saying in the Navy/Marine team: Keep your sea bag packed. There are always uncertainties associated with the military, and these
uncertainties are compounded when we're in a war mode. Those who have
served in the military know this very well. With something close to two-million
men and women in our military it is amazing that there's a method to keep
track of everyone, let alone move them to new assignments every one-to-three
years. And of course, people feel that their assignment deserves top priority.
The higher in rank you climb, the more likely you are to begin to think
the military can't do without you. Ha! Think again. This brings me back to the same spot I was in last year. I had the understanding
that I would be going back across the pond with the Marines early this
year. It did not turn out that way. And that's good. Why? Because the
Lord did some exciting things in my life despite what I thought should
happen. My wife and I have a passage of scripture that we claimed for our lives
as a married couple when we were married June 5, 1976. It is Proverbs
3:5-6. This is what it says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
him, and he will direct your path." This means that what happens to me is not about me. It's not about what
I want. Nor is it about what I think would be best for me, or the Marines
I serve. It's about God's plan and where I fit into that picture. Allow me to use an analogy here. I love the game of football. I played
a little bit in high school (I was in five high schools in four years!),
and then I played one year in college, and two years in the Marines. Later
as a Navy chaplain, I coached a Marine team for two years. But when I
played I was a back up everything. I was the back up quarterback; back
up running back; back up linebacker… You get the idea. Another way
to put it would be to say I was a veteran bench warmer! The coach has anywhere from 25 to 45 players to choose from. Only eleven
can be on the field at one time. The rest wait until their talents are
needed. Here's the connection. God decides who "plays." He decides
when and where. Consider Joseph in the Book of Genesis. He learned a lot
about sitting on the bench. But when God needed to use him, he was ready!
As I continue to learn to walk by faith, I am discovering (again) that
God can get along just fine without me. He can accomplish his purposes
either with my assistance, or without my assistance. My wife, Isaura, flew down to spend President's Day weekend with me.
While enjoying a wonderful dinner at a favorite restaurant (Mimi's) in
Carlsbad, she asked me what I would prefer to do if I had the choice.
The three choices would be: 1) Stay as the RBE Chaplain at Camp Pendleton,
2) Return to Djibouti, Africa, or 3) Go forward with the Marines to Iraq.
My answer: Go with the Marines. I'm probably a candidate for a free session with a psychologist, but
if the Marines are going into harms way I want to be there with them.
However, it's not my decision. It's God's. So, I take to heart in that portion of Proverbs 3:5 that says, "Don't
lean on your own understanding." My understanding of any situation
is faulty if I'm not relying on God's leading. It's déjà vu all over again! Moreover, I'm proud to serve
my country - wherever and whenever that may be. |
