While at CHBOLC, a Korean chaplain in my platoon would occasionally take me aside and offer some encouraging words. He would tell me that I reminded him of his sister. He spoke so very highly of her and said he hoped we would get to meet some time. I doubted that would happen, but five months later we met at a Fourth of July picnic at Fort Jackson. Another chaplain from my old platoon had returned to South Carolina to complete officer basic. He saw me at the picnic and quickly introduced me to his new classmate, Chaplain Grace Bong. I was so excited to meet my friend’s sister. Now, a year later, she showed up in my Google News page. Here’s the story.

Today marks the beginning of my third year at AGTS. I’m half way done!

My classes:
Christianity in modern & postmodern eras
Communicating Christian faith in a pluralistic society
Practicum in Pastoral Ministry - With Pastor Loralie at Central Assembly of God

I’m really excited about this semester.

Jeremiah and Sarah started school yesterday. Joel starts a grad program on Thursday.

My friend CH Shulman is in the news again. Last December I linked to a story CNN did about him. He showed up on my Google News page again today. This time he wrote the article. Read it here.

Rachel told me about a song she heard on the radio. It told of a father missing out on his kid’s life because he was always on the road. We talked about this Army life and the inevitable separation that we dread.

Sarah walked into the room when I still had this on my mind. I know how much of a mama’s girl she is and how much she missed her daddy when he was deployed. I asked her, “Sarah, are you mad about me being a Chaplain?” She said no. I asked, “Are you excited about it?” Her reply, “Yes!” “What if I go to war?” I asked. She quickly answered, “Then I’d like to stay with daddy.” I asked if she’d write me letters every day and send me Rice Krispies treats. She smiled, promising to send me dairy free treats. She climbed up onto my lap. She hugged me and asked, “But what if you die?” “Well, then I’ll see you in heaven” I said as I kissed her forehead. “You are going to be there aren’t you?” She smiled and said yes. I told her, “Don’t worry, chaplains don’t usually die. None have died in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars.” She looked a bit relieved and said, “Really? I didn’t know that. Why?” I told her they try to keep us safe cause we’re so important. She laughed and ran off to play.

It was a light-hearted conversation about a serious topic. My little girl. To her, nothing is worse than a day without hugs from mom… and yet she bravely looks toward tomorrow knowing I’ll probably be deployed in a few years. She’s not just some kindergartner who doesn’t understand… her daddy just came home from Afghanistan. She knows how what it means.

I asked her why she wanted me to be a chaplain if she doesn’t want me to go away. I expected some sort of answer about telling soldiers about Jesus. Instead she said I need to go to war “to keep the soldiers safe.” I asked her how I am supposed to do that. She whispered, “Tell them to try to stay alive.”

When questioned about a candidate’s stance on abortion, a dear friend recently said to me, “I’m not voting on that issue.”

The comment reminded me of my friend Matt’s recent post:
One Issue Voting « From the Straight and Narrow

Somehow I’ve neglected to post for 10 days. And I had almost tricked anyone into thinking I was coming back to blogging.

I’ve been really busy. I had four papers to write for a class I got an incomplete in last semester. [Finished! I got a B. Oh well.]

I also had to prepare for my Assemblies of God minister credential test and interview.
[Done! I did well.]

I’ve got a week of summer left. I’ll spend that time getting all four of us ready to go back to school. I’m trying to get ahead on my reading and maybe even write a couple of my papers before the semester starts. I have to make a Web site for CCFG too….

I’m going to start spending a lot more time working at the church this semester and I’m doing a pastoral ministry practicum there too.

Someday soon I’ll come back to gentlewhisper.com and write more on the topic of depression. I was starting a series.

This morning started with a phone call. Jami called to tell me that Zach Whitcavitch had died. It turns out he was killed by a drunk driver.

Zach was a 23 year old Marine who recently returned from Iraq. He was also one of my favorite kids when Joel and I taught a 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School class in Dalhart, TX. We got to counsel him at church camp. Some of the grownups thought he was a trouble maker but I absolutely loved that little boy. I still do. After I moved away for college he would write to me and tell me about how much he loved Jesus. I’ve not seen him for over a decade, but I actually talk about him often. I think I was telling Rachel about him just a couple weeks ago.

I love his mama too and my heart aches for her tonight.

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While talking to someone about Zach, I found out that another longtime friend has a brain aneurysm… we’re waiting on new from the doctors.

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Another phone call brought more heartbreaking news: Good friends facing terrible marriage troubles. Of course I can’t share the details, but I’m still crying for them.

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And then the election results. Chief lost the Greene County Sheriff primary. I’m pretty sure Sarah Steelman won’t be our next governor.

I think I’ll go to sleep. Maybe tomorrow will work out better.