Probably the best part of this blog stuff is getting reacquainted and staying connected with old friends. My friend Martha recently had a posting discussing her husband's efforts to come back into the Army following 9/11. This was very interesting to me and helped shed some light on my own situation, though from a different vantage point.
I've had many situations like this in my own Air Force career when I was called (and continue to be called) to go in harm's way. My wife would, of course, be upset--she doesn't want to see anything happen to me. What she had the hardest time understanding was WHY I wanted to go and would do everything I could to go. If I was picked to go, that would be fine. But why fight to go? Most guys I work with are this way. We're all itching to "get into the fight" and go do what we've been trained to do. Why would I want to leave my family and the safety and comfort of home and risk my life halfway across the world?
I believe that I've been called to do what I do. I believe that God created men with this innate desire to be part of something larger. To have a dream, a vision of something better, of what could be. When a man does something he's been called to do I believe there's a fire that burns in him. I believe this fire makes him a better husband and father. This calling can be in the military, in the church, at whatever job he does. What a blessing to do what God has called you to do! John Eldredge wrote about this in his book Wild at Heart. It's a great book that takes a look at what makes up a man.
So, even though I'm away from my wife and children right now, they're never far away in my thoughts. It's not that I don't want to be there with them, it's that I feel I have to be here. When I am back together with them, I know they'll see that fire inside. I think my wife has learned this and understands more now. She says it's one of the reasons she loves me--it's part of the man that I am. That and I love to cook...
I hope this helps, Martha. Thanks for sharing and thank your husband for me for his service.
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4 comments:
Yes, I know it's a part of him and I can't really be upset with him for wanting to as to do that would be to deny the things about him that I love and respect. He is the cook too! I can cook better breakfast, but he does everything else much better.
I can't fight or cook. Thank God for people who do one or the other. Double thanks for those who do both! We need people like you Steve and like Martha's brave husband.
Amen.
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