Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tough day for a friend.

I took a friend to hospital this afternoon.  This friend is suffering from the darkest night of the soul.  She needs thoughts of love and prayer sent towards Sacramento tonight.

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Monday, May 9, 2011

"If It Be Your Will, Leonard Cohen, Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Ontario, May 19, 2009"

This song made me sit right up, and the tears began to flow.  Had to share it!


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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Friday, May 6, 2011

A Story of Faith Unshaken

A story of a simple solid faith in the face of direst adversity. It made my day!

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/06/faith-unshaken-by-tornado/

BEN

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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Osama Bin Laden

We have seen so many times the last few years people in other parts of the world rejoicing in our losses on 9/11. It's only fitting that the United States has it's moment now that the ringleader of this attack who boasted about it over the decade has met justice.

I lost people I knew in New York on 9/11/01. Another friend is permanently scarred from escaping the Twin Towers that day, I am sure that few reading this did not know someone personally affected. This battle is not over, not by any means. But this is a win for the sake of those we lost on September 11. We need to take this moment. Bin Laden has met justice. I am not sorry at all this has happened.

So tonight we cheer for a bit. We honor the memories of those we lost. But tomorrow, we must return to pray for and work towards peace in this world.

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

A military story

It is 0100 on Sunday morning.  I need to be up in 5 hours but I've not yet gone to sleep.  I've been on duty as Chaplain since shortly after lunch.  It has been an amazing day.

I cannot say how touched I am today to see how our local men and women in uniform take care of each other.  A sewrviceman at a nearby base was critically injured last night and life-flighted here.  Right now it is touch and go.  The family lives far away.

I went to the ICU expecting a very difficult afternoon.  However, as soon as I got off the elevator, I saw that most of the people in the large waiting area were in uniform.  A man came up to me and introduced himself as the base's Colonel, Another was a Commander and there were a Lieutenant and some Sergeants as well.

 The enlisted men and woman were shell-shocked but the officers took over.  They made sure the family was transported 3000 miles to Sacramento.  A hotel was arranged.  The injured man's Pastor was brought up from the Bay area.  The enlisted's were each assigned to an officer to talk quietly and to process what had happened to their friend.

As the Hospital Chaplain, I was there along with the local Pastor of this man's denomination.  There was little for us to do, othetr than just be there, as a spiritual presence and pray with those in the waiting room.  And of course to stand in awe at the caring and love we saw around us.

At midnight, the first family members were whisked in from the airport in an Air Force van.  They were escorted by an officer in dress blues.  Over at the hotel, their luggage was being unloaded and food were being laid out in the both the ICU waiting room and at the hotel..

I think I am blessed to have three siblings and a strong family.  But because of his service this young man has 50 siblings, sitting with him, taking care of his family and friends and forming a circle of love, support and prayer. 

I am not sure about the wars we fight today, but I have no doubt that our men and women in uniform have our backs and have each others' backs as well.   "Leave no man behind".   I saw this embodied tonight in a way I've never seen it before. 

It's still touch and go for this young Airman.  But the support I saw tonight will as much as anything else help lift he and his family through the next few days.

We are blessed to have our men and women in uniform.  We owe them nothing less than our gratitude and respect.

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