INVOCATION

GOD of Creation, help us to understand our role in the violence we see around us, be it war, be it domestic abuse, be it how we treat our neighbor, or the stranger among us. Open our eyes, our ears and hearts to the way of shalom. Be with us as we listen to learn and to sit with the tension.

REFLECTION

This video is an adaptation of Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer.” You may see this uniform and think, “WOW, he has done a lot of cool stuff, lot’s of shiny things.” What you don’t see are the stories behind each part of my uniform, the unspoken prayers for our soldiers. Yes, there are some fun things I have done, like parachute out of airplanes and helicopters, rappel from helicopters, travel the world; Panama, Korea, Oman, Jordan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Okinawa, lived in multiple states; GA, WA, KY, NY, OK, NC, CO. Yes, I have gained much experience in leadership, getting everything out of someone who wanted to give up. Yes, I learned a foreign language, “Je parle francais, un petite peu.” Yes, I have learned from some of the best leaders this country has to offer. I have some of the best friends anyone could ever have, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I needed help, they would be at my door and they know the same for them. What do you not see is the time, the effort, the injuries both physical, mental and spiritual behind the uniform.

You see my rank, E-7, Sergeant First Class, a senior Non-Commissioned Officer, yes it provided for my family but it also took from my family. It took time from them while I was away at a leadership school, sometimes up to eight weeks away, while still in the United States.

You see my Airborne wings, both US and Korean. Yes, it was exhilarating, yes, I was paid an extra $150 a month to exit a perfectly good aircraft that was going to land anyways. What you do not see are the injuries sustained, the hard landings, the times your head slammed the ground, just thankful tastily be able to “walk” off the drop zone. Yes, I have Korean jump wings, the thing is, I had to be in Korea, for one year, to earn those, my family was still in the US.

You see the awards, each one has a story. The UN service ribbon, for serving in Afghanistan, along with ALL the other soldiers from around the world putting their lives on the line, away from their families. Four Overseas service ribbons, not to mention the multiple moves across the nation and the stress that puts on our families, especially our kid. Yes overseas four times without family, one year in Panama, one year in Korea, fifteen months in Afghanistan, followed by another year in Afghanistan, separated from family, hopefully being able to get through on the phone lines for a quick call on birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas, hoping the siren didn’t go off until after your phone call. Three times I went to an NCO leadership school, learning more ways to plan, execute, and lead soldiers into combat, the first when I was twenty years old, still a kid learning how to lead other kids. Afghan Campaign ribbon, showing the world that I had served in Afghanistan twice. National Defense Service ribbon, with star, showing that I had served during times of conflict twice, the first being Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Good Conduct medal, showing my twenty years of selfless service. Six Army Achievement Medals and eleven Army Accommodation Medals, two of which were for just being in Afghanistan, one Army Accommodation was given to me for exemplary service during what we call a “TIC,” Troops in Contact. During this particular event we lost a soldier but I was still given the award, every Sept 12, I sit back and reflect on that day. What you don’t see are the times that I have had to drop bombs and mortars on my “enemy,” you don’t see the carnage that comes with that, the smell, the images of fathers, husbands, sons that will not come home to their families that night. What you don’t realize is how fireworks effect me, or gun shots.

You see the four hash marks on the right sleeve, over two years in Afghanistan, twenty-seven months to be exact. You see the five hash marks on the left sleeve, representing the twenty years of service. What most fail to see behind the “Man in the uniform,” is the pent up emotion, the pent up tears, the pain mentally, physically, spiritually. I am one of the lucky ones, I only served in combat for two years, there are MANY others who have over a decade in combat, I have lost too many friends to suicide, to homicide/suicide.

We were sold lies by the church; be patriotic, go defend the nation, serve the empire. We were not told “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” Matthew 5:9. We were not told “those that live by the sword, die by the sword,” Matthew 26:52. Please, do not say “Thank you for your service,” it makes many of us uncomfortable. Do not treat us like heroes, do not ask us to stand up on Veteran’s Day, no not celebrate Memorial Day as the “First Day of Summer’, it is a day of lament. What we ask, what I ask for is this; “Church, turn from the ways of the empire, turn away from the addiction to war and violence, do as Isaiah 2:4 says, ‘He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples: and THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES AND THE SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, NEITHER SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANYMORE.’”

PRAYER OF RESISTANCE

Our allegiance is to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Therefore, we reject violence, in ALL its forms and fashions, we repent and seek forgiveness from God and from our veteran Brothers and Sisters, for sins our nation ordered them to commit on our behalf. Help us to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before You.

TIME OF COMMUNION/EUCHARIST/LORD’S TABLE