Friday, December 22, 2006 at 12:12am
'Chaplain, pray for me. I'm headed to the war.'
Column: Interesting Times
Pat McLaughlin is my friend and on the way to Iraq again just after he and his wife, Leigh, and their five children spend Christmas together this weekend.
His current bio reads: "Reverend Patrick J. McLaughlin is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1989. He has served churches in Vinton, Virginia and Kannapolis, NC. He was commissioned a United States Navy Chaplain in 1992. During this time Chaplain McLaughlin has served with the Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard.
"He has served as Chaplain onboard ships, with Marine Aviators, with Coast Guardsmen on the rivers of the Midwest, at the Presidential Retreat Camp David, and with Marines and Sailors in Surgical Shock and Trauma and Mortuary Affairs at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Currently Commander McLaughlin serves as the Second Marine Logistics Group Forward Chaplain in Iraq."
For all the reasons one may assume, the last thing I want is for Pat to have to return to Iraq. In the meantime I have on my desktop his reflections and prayers. They are worth sharing at any season. Follows one reflection and a prayer we might all share in this present turmoil.
— — —
Chaplain, Pray For Me ...
"Chaplain, pray for me. I'm headed to the war."
Standing in my doorway is a young sailor in need of comfort, reassurance and prayer. It is a struggle to know how to pray in times of conflict. Transfer orders in hand from shore duty generally mean one thing — a return to the fleet and, in this particular instance, transferring to a unit that is forward deployed near combat operations.
I was momentarily surprised with his request, "Chaplain, pray for me. I'm headed to the war."
It is very rare that a warrior, a member of the military, shows this much emotion and trepidation. I know this Sailor and his family. I know him to be an outstanding petty officer and loving parent. But after I ask him to be seated in the chair next to my desk, I can see that the color has drained from his face. His request through me — to God is one of the most serious requests in his young lifetime. After discussion about the impending transfer, relocating family from the east to west coast, and when he expects to meet his new unit, we pray.
We pray facing one another, heads bowed. I call on God Almighty for blessings of safety. I pray for his family to have courage and strength while he is gone. I pray for a quick end to the war. When we finish our prayer, I tell him to pray constantly for God's help and protection. The color has returned to his face, and I can tell that the prayer has brought him some peace of mind and reassurance. It will certainly not be his last prayer about his impending situation. In reality, my prayers for him have just begun ... as he leaves, he turns and looks me directly in the eye, "Chaplain, don't forget to pray for me after I transfer."
When you pray to God about war, do you believe that God will part the waters, save us from Pharaoh's pursuing armies and lead us to safety on dry land? Or do you believe that God doesn't have a side in our conflicts — that these are the wars of humanity and that perhaps God disdains all war? Maybe, like the early church fathers in the time of Emperor Constantine, you struggle with the whole concept of two classes of Christians — one involved in the affairs of state and one not. Now, what role is your prayer? Is prayer dependent on your proximity to the conflict, personal beliefs or relationship with God?
So many questions ... so many possible answers, but one thing is certain: pray we must.
— — —
"I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier" (A Mother's Plea for Peace - 1915)
Almighty God: Green camouflage uniforms stretch row upon row
Proud to serve wherever they are told to go.
Keep every soldier under your care
For courage like theirs is extremely rare.
Whether serving in the air, on the ground or inside of tanks,
Let them know our country owes them resounding thanks.
And if the conflicts of the world will not cease
Be with the soldiers who will bring us peace."
— — —
Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her upcoming book, "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture," is due out March 2007. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Lynne Bundesen
His current bio reads: "Reverend Patrick J. McLaughlin is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1989. He has served churches in Vinton, Virginia and Kannapolis, NC. He was commissioned a United States Navy Chaplain in 1992. During this time Chaplain McLaughlin has served with the Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard.
"He has served as Chaplain onboard ships, with Marine Aviators, with Coast Guardsmen on the rivers of the Midwest, at the Presidential Retreat Camp David, and with Marines and Sailors in Surgical Shock and Trauma and Mortuary Affairs at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Currently Commander McLaughlin serves as the Second Marine Logistics Group Forward Chaplain in Iraq."
For all the reasons one may assume, the last thing I want is for Pat to have to return to Iraq. In the meantime I have on my desktop his reflections and prayers. They are worth sharing at any season. Follows one reflection and a prayer we might all share in this present turmoil.
— — —
Chaplain, Pray For Me ...
"Chaplain, pray for me. I'm headed to the war."
Standing in my doorway is a young sailor in need of comfort, reassurance and prayer. It is a struggle to know how to pray in times of conflict. Transfer orders in hand from shore duty generally mean one thing — a return to the fleet and, in this particular instance, transferring to a unit that is forward deployed near combat operations.
I was momentarily surprised with his request, "Chaplain, pray for me. I'm headed to the war."
It is very rare that a warrior, a member of the military, shows this much emotion and trepidation. I know this Sailor and his family. I know him to be an outstanding petty officer and loving parent. But after I ask him to be seated in the chair next to my desk, I can see that the color has drained from his face. His request through me — to God is one of the most serious requests in his young lifetime. After discussion about the impending transfer, relocating family from the east to west coast, and when he expects to meet his new unit, we pray.
We pray facing one another, heads bowed. I call on God Almighty for blessings of safety. I pray for his family to have courage and strength while he is gone. I pray for a quick end to the war. When we finish our prayer, I tell him to pray constantly for God's help and protection. The color has returned to his face, and I can tell that the prayer has brought him some peace of mind and reassurance. It will certainly not be his last prayer about his impending situation. In reality, my prayers for him have just begun ... as he leaves, he turns and looks me directly in the eye, "Chaplain, don't forget to pray for me after I transfer."
When you pray to God about war, do you believe that God will part the waters, save us from Pharaoh's pursuing armies and lead us to safety on dry land? Or do you believe that God doesn't have a side in our conflicts — that these are the wars of humanity and that perhaps God disdains all war? Maybe, like the early church fathers in the time of Emperor Constantine, you struggle with the whole concept of two classes of Christians — one involved in the affairs of state and one not. Now, what role is your prayer? Is prayer dependent on your proximity to the conflict, personal beliefs or relationship with God?
So many questions ... so many possible answers, but one thing is certain: pray we must.
— — —
"I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier" (A Mother's Plea for Peace - 1915)
Almighty God: Green camouflage uniforms stretch row upon row
Proud to serve wherever they are told to go.
Keep every soldier under your care
For courage like theirs is extremely rare.
Whether serving in the air, on the ground or inside of tanks,
Let them know our country owes them resounding thanks.
And if the conflicts of the world will not cease
Be with the soldiers who will bring us peace."
— — —
Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her upcoming book, "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture," is due out March 2007. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Lynne Bundesen