Cammie and I tried to combine an appointment with our financial adviser with a day date in DC this past Monday. It was fun, but not exactly as planned.
First, our appointment with the financial adviser went extremely well. Cammie and I have gotten so good at fighting about money that we don't have to actually fight. We got down to two fights a year for a while and now, I just point out the issue and ask if the fight is necessary. Most of the time, it is not. Cammie did ask if Jim had praised me in the previous meeting with him for saving money on clothes and my car, but I took the slight in stride.
Jim analyzed all our finances and let us know that many of our investments were stinkers and moved our money around. He also analyzed our insurance and decided that Cammie was under-insured and started explaining why she needed more Universal Life. I don't remember anything else he said, but when he got to the part about Universal Life paying for somebody to help her if she could no longer dress herself, I said, "We'll take it!" I don't want to seem unloving, but I can not imagine a more demanding task than dressing a woman who tries on six outfits prior to leaving the house each day. I did not know there was insurance available to make sure I never had to do that for her, but now that we had a chance to buy it, I could not hesitate!
After we left Jim's office, we went to lunch using one of our Christmas Gift cards. This is the second mention of gift cards we received and I think I should go on the record and say that I may have fouled up the gift exchange plan this year. I made contributions to World Vision for our family members, but they mostly sent us gifts. I am afraid we did not coordinate this like we should have, but at least I didn't donate to the "HUMAN FUND" in their names (George Costanza reference for you younger folks). There still may be an airing of grievances, though. That is on me, so all future gifts to the Benefields can be World Vision donations from now until eternity. Despite the possible gift exchange faux pas, we enjoyed a very peaceful and tasty lunch - thank you Steve and Sabrina.
We left lunch and started downtown to visit the American History Museum and the Botanical Gardens. There were many people who had similar plans. The National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the Botanical Gardens all had lines hanging out of them representative of a convoy of clown cars and tour buses emptying out. Thus, we ended up leaving downtown DC and driving back to Herndon to see Avatar, the spiritually confused film with the freaky blue people.
I know the special effects in Avatar were spectacular, but as Charlie Daniels told us, the Devil plays a pretty mean fiddle, too. I am going to be in the minority when I say this, but Avatar is a dark and evil movie that substitutes emotions for truth and elevates tree worship above worshiping God. If you think its just a movie, then I would recommend you see The Passion of the Christ just before you see Avatar so you will at least have seen the truth first. Just so everybody knows that I was not the only one, Cammie was also deeply disturbed by this movie. I thought having a wounded warrior Marine as the central character might salvage the movie's political message, but its message went beyond political into some very dark spiritual themes that could not be salvaged if John Wayne himself had starred in it. Hollywood is going to fall into the ocean soon if Avatar is typical of their worldview and Sodom and Gomorrah is any indicator. I am still waiting for all the war movies about Iraq and Afghanistan that tell the story of all our brave warriors who have shed blood to liberate millions and protect their homeland. Not many movies about God and Country these days, I guess.
We returned home from our date and played Wii with the kids. Despite our wasted time downtown and the disturbing movie, we still had a good time and I can rest easy knowing that I won't ever have to dress Cammie if she is not able to do that herself.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Gettysburg (rated - whatever tells you I am going to pass on things my kids said)
The Benefields were due a family outing, so I began mission planning for a trip to Gettysburg. Our failed attempt at a date down town reinforced the need to plan everything here, so I pulled up the Gettysburg tourism site, http://www.gettysburg.travel/visitor/attractions.asp, and starting planning my fanny off.
We started off with two major disadvantages. The first disadvantage was that 50% of the sites were closed seasonally (NOV-MAR is not good for touring Gettysburg). Another 20% were closed because it was Wednesday, but we still managed to identify several sites of interest that made the trip worthwhile. An Eisenhower Christmas, the Battlefield, a covered bridge, several scenic tours, and Mister Ed's Elephant Museum made the final cut for planning!
I don't want to say that I have been grumpy and short with my family lately, but Cammie actually confronted me on the way to Gettysburg for being in a good mood! She asked me if I was taking drugs, but I never figured out if she asked out of concern for my health or if she just wanted access to my stash. I was not chemically altered, but I did threaten all the kids with the worst punishments I could imagine if they did not behave well on this trip. Just knowing they were sufficiently scared straight put me in a better mood.
We got a bit of a late start and had to make a McDonald's stop for the kids and a Taco Bell stop for Cammie and me in Leesburg, VA. Drive thru at McD's and I walked in at Taco Bell just across the street. While waiting for my order, an older lady, who could have been Barbara Bush, struck up a conversation with me (in English) and we became fast friends. She was completely amazed at the efficiency of the Taco Bell staff and acted like she had never been inside one before. I had to admit that I was impressed to see three different customers complain and see the Taco Bell crew handle all three complaints exceptionally well, In all three cases, the customers were in the wrong! I have never seen that before, but they let them off the hook easily and rapido, por favor.
With semi-full bellies, we pedaled on down the road to Gettysburg and arrived at 8 Lincoln Square with completely full bladders. We had to make a bathroom stop at the Subway just off the square before starting our tourist activities. The boys broke out in one of their anatomy discussions while we waited for the girls. Jay Allen wanted to know why it took the girls so long - was it because they had to wipe? In the middle of Subway, he went on to explain to James that boys have penises, but girls have Chinuses. Some of you may remember that after watching Kindergarten Cop, the boys told me that boys have peanuts and girls have Chinas. They have figured out the terminology for male anatomy, but obviously believe that the plural of China is Chinuses. James was now pointing to his man parts, going "Yeah, boys have penises." Cammie emerged from the lady's room with Carlie to find me laughing semi-hysterically (still no drugs involved, I promise).
After all the anatomy talk, we had to escape Subway through the back door and find the starting point for all our planned tours. We walked around the square and failed to find the correct address (8), so I volunteered to duck into the Cigar shop and ask directions. When I broke the front door open, I was overcome with the sweetest smelling cigar smoke you can imagine. I was so distracted that I did not notice the Pit Bull who charged James and attacked him relentlessly - with slobbery sugar! That was the most affectionate dog I have ever seen and James loved him! The Cigar Store owner gave me directions to all the tourist attractions between pulls on his very fine cigar and sips of his Bourbon. All three seemed to be in perfect balance, but I only partook of the second hand smoke and the directions. He was very proud of his town and rightfully so. I think we could have spent a week in Gettysburg, but alas, we had only one afternoon. The cigars and Bourbon would have to wait.
After stopping briefly at the Wills House (where President Lincoln stayed the night before the Gettysburg address) to snap a picture with a statue of Abraham Lincoln, we headed on to the Gettysburg Museum. There were many options there, so I had to go to the information desk for help. I pointed to Cammie and the three kids and asked what would be the best choice to entertain those people for the rest of the afternoon, keeping in mind that we were going to stop by Mister Ed's Elephant Museum on the way home. First, the Park Ranger behind the desk had to make sure I knew that Mister Ed had more Elephants than anybody could possibly enjoy or even endure and the only attraction there was the candy, which we could buy at the nearest gas station. Ok, Ed was out. After sizing up our family, she recommended a Museum tour and a Battlefield driving tour. I think she was dead on!
James did mistake the museum for a playground and ran around simulating riding a horse or flying in an airplane the whole time. Strangely, the sound effects for a galloping horse and a speeding jet plane are the same for James and both involve spraying almost as much slobber as the friendly pooch in the cigar shop did. Gettysburg's Museum is truly awesome and I didn't get to take in but a fraction of it, but we are going back!
A quick aside - this is my second attempt to see Gettysburg that has fallen short. In January of 2001, I had worked with Trevor "Guppy" Hill to plan an actual Airborne operation that would drop modern paratroopers from the 509th onto the historic battlefields of Gettysburg. Trevor ended up doing most of the planning, but it started as my idea and I had planned on being one of the primary jump-masters kicking out Airborne soldiers over that sacred ground. Well, something even neater than that happened and my daughter, Carlie, was born just a day or two before the Gettysburg jump went off. I wish that I had been able to go on the jump, but not at the risk of missing Carlie's birth.
Now, back to today's trip. After persisting as long as we thought we could in the museum without getting kicked out, we began our battlefield driving tour. Knowing that Cammie and I were the only ones who would pay attention (and we were getting hungry), we passed on buying the CD with the narrated auto-tour and just free-styled our tour of the battlefield. We drove up to Culp's Hill and climbed the observation tower to observe the entire battlefield. This, too, was awesome. The kids loved it. In case you don't know, the only member of our family with any fear of heights is Cammie. That makes it really tough to keep control of the family at altitude, so I had to put Carlie in charge of Cammie and I took charge of James. Jay Allen had to be trusted to be in charge of himself, and he did a good job. After successfully coming down from the tower, we headed back toward Northern Virginia.
We received a Cracker Barrel gift certificate for Christmas, so we decided to use it on the way back. Cammie called the 1-800 number and was on hold for about thirty minutes to ask if there was a Cracker Barrel in Frederick, MD. Just seconds after the friendly lady at the Cracker Barrel Help Desk finally picked up and said, "Hang on just a second, Honey, and let me get my locator out." We passed a billboard with the exact location on it. That is so typical of our luck. Our life really is a SITCOM - some of you already know that.
Well, we made it to Cracker Barrel and the kids were really well behaved and the food was really good. One surprise and one as you would expect it. I ordered the very festive salad with chicken and feta and apples, but couldn't resist a side order of greens and beans - the perfect meal for a health conscious hillbilly. Cammie and I couldn't recall ever having a bad meal from Cracker Barrel.
Jay Allen had on his Terrance Cody #62 Jersey and I had on my Alabama Sweatshirt that a gentlemen noticed as we were leaving. He asked if we were from Alabama and I, of course, said, "YES! ROLL TIDE!" He then surprised me and said, "Alabama! You guys have the best.." I was waiting for running back, receiver, linebacker, quarterback, kicker, coach, but instead, he said, "you guys have the best looking license plates." I was speechless for a second and then said, "Yes, thanks. The state prisoners do a good job on those." I really did not know the appropriate response.
The rest of our trip was uneventful, but we kept talking about how good our meal was. Thanks to my brother and Jennifer for the gift certificate. For any of my friends considering a visit to Gettysburg, do it! You can't imagine a place that is more hospitable, even to people with ties to the losing side of that conflict.
We started off with two major disadvantages. The first disadvantage was that 50% of the sites were closed seasonally (NOV-MAR is not good for touring Gettysburg). Another 20% were closed because it was Wednesday, but we still managed to identify several sites of interest that made the trip worthwhile. An Eisenhower Christmas, the Battlefield, a covered bridge, several scenic tours, and Mister Ed's Elephant Museum made the final cut for planning!
I don't want to say that I have been grumpy and short with my family lately, but Cammie actually confronted me on the way to Gettysburg for being in a good mood! She asked me if I was taking drugs, but I never figured out if she asked out of concern for my health or if she just wanted access to my stash. I was not chemically altered, but I did threaten all the kids with the worst punishments I could imagine if they did not behave well on this trip. Just knowing they were sufficiently scared straight put me in a better mood.
We got a bit of a late start and had to make a McDonald's stop for the kids and a Taco Bell stop for Cammie and me in Leesburg, VA. Drive thru at McD's and I walked in at Taco Bell just across the street. While waiting for my order, an older lady, who could have been Barbara Bush, struck up a conversation with me (in English) and we became fast friends. She was completely amazed at the efficiency of the Taco Bell staff and acted like she had never been inside one before. I had to admit that I was impressed to see three different customers complain and see the Taco Bell crew handle all three complaints exceptionally well, In all three cases, the customers were in the wrong! I have never seen that before, but they let them off the hook easily and rapido, por favor.
With semi-full bellies, we pedaled on down the road to Gettysburg and arrived at 8 Lincoln Square with completely full bladders. We had to make a bathroom stop at the Subway just off the square before starting our tourist activities. The boys broke out in one of their anatomy discussions while we waited for the girls. Jay Allen wanted to know why it took the girls so long - was it because they had to wipe? In the middle of Subway, he went on to explain to James that boys have penises, but girls have Chinuses. Some of you may remember that after watching Kindergarten Cop, the boys told me that boys have peanuts and girls have Chinas. They have figured out the terminology for male anatomy, but obviously believe that the plural of China is Chinuses. James was now pointing to his man parts, going "Yeah, boys have penises." Cammie emerged from the lady's room with Carlie to find me laughing semi-hysterically (still no drugs involved, I promise).
After all the anatomy talk, we had to escape Subway through the back door and find the starting point for all our planned tours. We walked around the square and failed to find the correct address (8), so I volunteered to duck into the Cigar shop and ask directions. When I broke the front door open, I was overcome with the sweetest smelling cigar smoke you can imagine. I was so distracted that I did not notice the Pit Bull who charged James and attacked him relentlessly - with slobbery sugar! That was the most affectionate dog I have ever seen and James loved him! The Cigar Store owner gave me directions to all the tourist attractions between pulls on his very fine cigar and sips of his Bourbon. All three seemed to be in perfect balance, but I only partook of the second hand smoke and the directions. He was very proud of his town and rightfully so. I think we could have spent a week in Gettysburg, but alas, we had only one afternoon. The cigars and Bourbon would have to wait.
After stopping briefly at the Wills House (where President Lincoln stayed the night before the Gettysburg address) to snap a picture with a statue of Abraham Lincoln, we headed on to the Gettysburg Museum. There were many options there, so I had to go to the information desk for help. I pointed to Cammie and the three kids and asked what would be the best choice to entertain those people for the rest of the afternoon, keeping in mind that we were going to stop by Mister Ed's Elephant Museum on the way home. First, the Park Ranger behind the desk had to make sure I knew that Mister Ed had more Elephants than anybody could possibly enjoy or even endure and the only attraction there was the candy, which we could buy at the nearest gas station. Ok, Ed was out. After sizing up our family, she recommended a Museum tour and a Battlefield driving tour. I think she was dead on!
James did mistake the museum for a playground and ran around simulating riding a horse or flying in an airplane the whole time. Strangely, the sound effects for a galloping horse and a speeding jet plane are the same for James and both involve spraying almost as much slobber as the friendly pooch in the cigar shop did. Gettysburg's Museum is truly awesome and I didn't get to take in but a fraction of it, but we are going back!
A quick aside - this is my second attempt to see Gettysburg that has fallen short. In January of 2001, I had worked with Trevor "Guppy" Hill to plan an actual Airborne operation that would drop modern paratroopers from the 509th onto the historic battlefields of Gettysburg. Trevor ended up doing most of the planning, but it started as my idea and I had planned on being one of the primary jump-masters kicking out Airborne soldiers over that sacred ground. Well, something even neater than that happened and my daughter, Carlie, was born just a day or two before the Gettysburg jump went off. I wish that I had been able to go on the jump, but not at the risk of missing Carlie's birth.
Now, back to today's trip. After persisting as long as we thought we could in the museum without getting kicked out, we began our battlefield driving tour. Knowing that Cammie and I were the only ones who would pay attention (and we were getting hungry), we passed on buying the CD with the narrated auto-tour and just free-styled our tour of the battlefield. We drove up to Culp's Hill and climbed the observation tower to observe the entire battlefield. This, too, was awesome. The kids loved it. In case you don't know, the only member of our family with any fear of heights is Cammie. That makes it really tough to keep control of the family at altitude, so I had to put Carlie in charge of Cammie and I took charge of James. Jay Allen had to be trusted to be in charge of himself, and he did a good job. After successfully coming down from the tower, we headed back toward Northern Virginia.
We received a Cracker Barrel gift certificate for Christmas, so we decided to use it on the way back. Cammie called the 1-800 number and was on hold for about thirty minutes to ask if there was a Cracker Barrel in Frederick, MD. Just seconds after the friendly lady at the Cracker Barrel Help Desk finally picked up and said, "Hang on just a second, Honey, and let me get my locator out." We passed a billboard with the exact location on it. That is so typical of our luck. Our life really is a SITCOM - some of you already know that.
Well, we made it to Cracker Barrel and the kids were really well behaved and the food was really good. One surprise and one as you would expect it. I ordered the very festive salad with chicken and feta and apples, but couldn't resist a side order of greens and beans - the perfect meal for a health conscious hillbilly. Cammie and I couldn't recall ever having a bad meal from Cracker Barrel.
Jay Allen had on his Terrance Cody #62 Jersey and I had on my Alabama Sweatshirt that a gentlemen noticed as we were leaving. He asked if we were from Alabama and I, of course, said, "YES! ROLL TIDE!" He then surprised me and said, "Alabama! You guys have the best.." I was waiting for running back, receiver, linebacker, quarterback, kicker, coach, but instead, he said, "you guys have the best looking license plates." I was speechless for a second and then said, "Yes, thanks. The state prisoners do a good job on those." I really did not know the appropriate response.
The rest of our trip was uneventful, but we kept talking about how good our meal was. Thanks to my brother and Jennifer for the gift certificate. For any of my friends considering a visit to Gettysburg, do it! You can't imagine a place that is more hospitable, even to people with ties to the losing side of that conflict.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Naked Ugandan - a story from my last deployment
I recently traveled to one of our FOBs where I saw a lot of paratroopers and one naked Ugandan. Many of our security personnel are Ugandans - very professional and meticulous in performance of their duties .
The Ugandan was in the shower when Chief Cropp, one of my office mates traveling with me, and I went to what the Air Force calls the "Cadillac" (the Army doesn't use that term and it was more the size of a compact Chevy). Chief got there in front of me and had shaving cream on his face and razor in hand when I entered the shower trailer. Just after I entered, the Ugandan popped out of the shower with no towel on and began applying lotion to his under moisturized areas - which were everywhere. Chief deftly left me a sink to shave at, but it was between him and the naked lotion'ing Ugandan.
That was all that was between Chief and the Ugandan, so I stood there with all of my personal hygiene equipment in my arms thinking. I was thinking for about two seconds before I told Chief we had to leave. He looked at me conflicted - with shaving cream on his face and a razor in his hand. He protested slightly, but I stated flat out in my loudest voice, "if that dude doesn't put on a towel or some shorts, I am leaving!" Chief then found inspiration and thought to ask about the hot water situation. The Ugandan confirmed that there was no hot water, so
Chief agreed to leave and we went to more modest (and I mean that in more ways than one) accommodations.
Looking back on the incident, that Ugandan probably had 10 or 11 roommates, so two dudes in the shower trailer was as much privacy as he could hope for. That being said, I am not an overly modest fellow, but personal space rules have to be strictly enforced when the dress code allows for birthday suits. There was just not enough personal space for three grown men in that shower trailer.
Hope you all get a smile from that story. That and a trip to the Iraqi Barbar (that is how they spelled it) shop for a haircut were the only excitement on the whole trip.
The Ugandan was in the shower when Chief Cropp, one of my office mates traveling with me, and I went to what the Air Force calls the "Cadillac" (the Army doesn't use that term and it was more the size of a compact Chevy). Chief got there in front of me and had shaving cream on his face and razor in hand when I entered the shower trailer. Just after I entered, the Ugandan popped out of the shower with no towel on and began applying lotion to his under moisturized areas - which were everywhere. Chief deftly left me a sink to shave at, but it was between him and the naked lotion'ing Ugandan.
That was all that was between Chief and the Ugandan, so I stood there with all of my personal hygiene equipment in my arms thinking. I was thinking for about two seconds before I told Chief we had to leave. He looked at me conflicted - with shaving cream on his face and a razor in his hand. He protested slightly, but I stated flat out in my loudest voice, "if that dude doesn't put on a towel or some shorts, I am leaving!" Chief then found inspiration and thought to ask about the hot water situation. The Ugandan confirmed that there was no hot water, so
Chief agreed to leave and we went to more modest (and I mean that in more ways than one) accommodations.
Looking back on the incident, that Ugandan probably had 10 or 11 roommates, so two dudes in the shower trailer was as much privacy as he could hope for. That being said, I am not an overly modest fellow, but personal space rules have to be strictly enforced when the dress code allows for birthday suits. There was just not enough personal space for three grown men in that shower trailer.
Hope you all get a smile from that story. That and a trip to the Iraqi Barbar (that is how they spelled it) shop for a haircut were the only excitement on the whole trip.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Benefield Family Justice System
I normally clean these up, but here is an unedited parent moment.
I heard Jay Allen crying and went to investigate. He told me that James hit him in the back and Carlie witnessed the whole thing, so I convened court.
James and Jay Allen were both defendants and Carlie was, as far as I knew, the innocent witness.
When questioned about why he hit his brother, James said Jay Allen had hit him first. I looked disapprovingly at Jay Allen and he said that was true, but it was an accident. He "barely hit" James while trying to get him to take his turn in the game they were playing.
I turned to the witness. Carlie confirmed this account and went into a lengthy explanation of the game and its rules to explain what Jay Allen had done. I only pretended to listen to all this background information, so I am unable to share it with you.
Getting closer to the truth, I then asked James, "Where did Jay Allen hit you?" James pointed and said, "In the penis."
We all broke up laughing and court was dismissed with no punishments handed out. I did know that James could say, or even knew that word, since girl parts are still "boomies" and "a china".
Again, James has joked his way out of trouble. This is a definite trend and I am trying without any success to stop it. James just gets funnier as we try to be firm in our discipline. Based on my experience, it seems that James will almost definitely grow up to be a police officer and run for sheriff one day (like his uncle AJ, in case you don't know the family well enough to catch that reference).
I heard Jay Allen crying and went to investigate. He told me that James hit him in the back and Carlie witnessed the whole thing, so I convened court.
James and Jay Allen were both defendants and Carlie was, as far as I knew, the innocent witness.
When questioned about why he hit his brother, James said Jay Allen had hit him first. I looked disapprovingly at Jay Allen and he said that was true, but it was an accident. He "barely hit" James while trying to get him to take his turn in the game they were playing.
I turned to the witness. Carlie confirmed this account and went into a lengthy explanation of the game and its rules to explain what Jay Allen had done. I only pretended to listen to all this background information, so I am unable to share it with you.
Getting closer to the truth, I then asked James, "Where did Jay Allen hit you?" James pointed and said, "In the penis."
We all broke up laughing and court was dismissed with no punishments handed out. I did know that James could say, or even knew that word, since girl parts are still "boomies" and "a china".
Again, James has joked his way out of trouble. This is a definite trend and I am trying without any success to stop it. James just gets funnier as we try to be firm in our discipline. Based on my experience, it seems that James will almost definitely grow up to be a police officer and run for sheriff one day (like his uncle AJ, in case you don't know the family well enough to catch that reference).
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Those Crazy Baptists!
I had to promise not to use names when I shared this story, but this is a good one. I work with a female officer at work who is also a Southern Baptist. The two of us are nearly twins in thought and action. She is currently in Hawaii on temporary duty and found herself at a luau with some over aggressive Jehovah Witnesses. They witnessed her to death and she was determined to fend them off (if not outright offend them). Reaching into the Baptist specific, THOU SHALT NOT's, she declined alcohol to offend them and chose to dance in the classic Hawaiian style. Now, that was a brave choice because her left foot is currently in a walking cast due to a torn Achilles tendon. She was in a good bit of pain when I talked to her, but quite proud of herself and quite satisfied that her Jehovah Witness Luau partners were sufficiently put off with her. If I could only type her laughs into this page, everybody who has ever attended a Baptist church could laugh themselves silly - I did.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Health and Wellness Issues
I have had an up and down flu season. I have been down hard with the flu once, had another mild case, and missed the Army ten miler because of it. James and Jay Allen both had a case of it, with James spraying our dinner with chocolate milk a few weeks ago. The wet rainy weather has brought us more cold and coughing and I am tired of it. Cammie has been sick two or three times herself and Carlie had a bad cold a couple of weeks ago. We need sunshine and health.
In trying to get back to normal, I decided to take my Army Physical Fitness Test this Thursday. I always enjoy preparing for an APFT and have lost about nine pounds since last week in preparing for this one. I am hungry and lean, but I am not full speed and I do still have a cough. So, I wanted to check in at the clinic to make sure that I wouldn't collapse a lung while running Thursday morning. In the DC area, this can be a logistical feat on par with keeping up with Patton's advance. I had to get reassigned from one clinic to another, which took four phone calls and one hour. Since my family already goes to this new clinic, I told the person on the phone that I knew most of the doctors were from India, but if she could assign me to one from Southern India, I think he could understand my Alabama accent better. She laughed, but I think she complied. I then had to go claim my medical records, which took an hour of driving and 15 minutes on site. The young sailors manning the records section had mine ready, so once I arrived they stuck my records out the service window and I picked them up like I would grab a super-sized value meal from my favorite fast food restaurant. I was pumped up at this show of military efficiency that is so rare in DC (Good job, Navy)! I was smoking! Now, just a 45 minute drive to the new clinic to hand over my records and get checked out.
As I was plugging my address into the GPS, I looked at my medical records and noticed something disturbing. For twenty years, I have worn my blood type on my dog tags as O-Negative. I looked down at my medical records and saw prominently written, O-Positive! What in the wide world of sports was going on? I confirmed with two competent medical authorities that your blood type can not just change. Navy, what have you done to my records? This was the most disturbing development in my records since I PCS'ed (the military term for "moved") from Fort Benning with somebody else's medical records - I will stop and explain that before I continue.
In 2002, I went to see the doctor with some severe allergies. He asked me some strange questions that caused me to glance at the records he had on me. Correct last name, correct last four of my social, but wrong soldier. So, there was a Sergeant Benefield at Fort Benning who shared my last four. That was interesting, but no harm done. The doctor quickly saw the mistake and exchanged his records for mine in the first minute of the appointment. I was thereafter careful to check the name on my records and cracked them open every time to make sure I had my own.
When I PCS'ed in 2003, I did indeed crack open my records and checked to make sure the Benefield listed on the outside was described as Eric J. on the inside. Good to go! I hand carried the records to Robbins Air Force Base and in-processed flight medicine right away.
As they were entering my information into the medical system, the records clerk asked me how I liked Augusta, Georgia. I answered, "Don't know, never been there." He responded, "Weren't you born there?" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I grabbed my records back and looked at the top few pages. Eric J. - just as it should be. But, after the first 5-10 pages, Sergeant Benefield! They had been mixing and matching our records for over two years! I would have thought that the medical geniuses who were looking right at me would have picked up on the fact that I am not a 6'4" black man, but at least they figured out that I was not born in Augusta. And I bet Sergeant Benefield was relieved at his next medical appointment to hear that his cholesterol was much better and he could come off the meds, but bad news - the Army had transformed him into a white man!
So now, after the Military medical system has changed my race (and Sergeant Benefield's), they have now changed my blood type! For twenty years, O-negative. Now, O-Positive! When was the mistake made? So today, after the doctor (from Southern India) assured me that I wouldn't collapse my lungs running Thursday, I asked the doctor how this could happen. She was not sure, but sent me to the lab to get blood-typed. People with twenty years service don't get blood-typed, so I am sure Ahmed, the lab technician, is now convinced I am some kind of secret operative or in some kind of military witness protection program. To be fair to Ahmed, I am confused myself.
So, I had to get blood drawn. I am not an "easy stick" and today was not a good day. Ahmed stuck my left arm and began moving that needle as if he had hooked a small mouth bass and was trying to pull it out of my arm. With as little emotion as possible, I told Ahmed, "That is mighty painful." He had trouble understanding me and asked, "It hurts?" I said, "Yes it does. I will jump and down and yell as if I were being tazed if that helps paint the picture." He quickly withdrew the needle and explained that my vein rolled. Oh, well, if I had known that, I would have brought my own clothes pin to hold it in place, but I really had no idea that my blood type was in question and that I would have blood drawn! I just came in with a cough!
Ahmed stuck me in the right arm with great efficiency, drew my blood, and sent me on my way. I did have bandages on both arms, but he gave me a Dragon Tales band-aid for my left arm and that made the small-mouth bass boo-boo all better.
So tonight, I sit here at home unsure if I am positive or negative. Based on past experiences with military medicine, I am braced for any result. I wouldn't be surprised to get my results back and learn that I am pregnant! White to black, negative to positive, why not dad to mom? Just kidding. I just had to share this crazy day with my friends so something good (like a smile or laugh) could come of it.
In trying to get back to normal, I decided to take my Army Physical Fitness Test this Thursday. I always enjoy preparing for an APFT and have lost about nine pounds since last week in preparing for this one. I am hungry and lean, but I am not full speed and I do still have a cough. So, I wanted to check in at the clinic to make sure that I wouldn't collapse a lung while running Thursday morning. In the DC area, this can be a logistical feat on par with keeping up with Patton's advance. I had to get reassigned from one clinic to another, which took four phone calls and one hour. Since my family already goes to this new clinic, I told the person on the phone that I knew most of the doctors were from India, but if she could assign me to one from Southern India, I think he could understand my Alabama accent better. She laughed, but I think she complied. I then had to go claim my medical records, which took an hour of driving and 15 minutes on site. The young sailors manning the records section had mine ready, so once I arrived they stuck my records out the service window and I picked them up like I would grab a super-sized value meal from my favorite fast food restaurant. I was pumped up at this show of military efficiency that is so rare in DC (Good job, Navy)! I was smoking! Now, just a 45 minute drive to the new clinic to hand over my records and get checked out.
As I was plugging my address into the GPS, I looked at my medical records and noticed something disturbing. For twenty years, I have worn my blood type on my dog tags as O-Negative. I looked down at my medical records and saw prominently written, O-Positive! What in the wide world of sports was going on? I confirmed with two competent medical authorities that your blood type can not just change. Navy, what have you done to my records? This was the most disturbing development in my records since I PCS'ed (the military term for "moved") from Fort Benning with somebody else's medical records - I will stop and explain that before I continue.
In 2002, I went to see the doctor with some severe allergies. He asked me some strange questions that caused me to glance at the records he had on me. Correct last name, correct last four of my social, but wrong soldier. So, there was a Sergeant Benefield at Fort Benning who shared my last four. That was interesting, but no harm done. The doctor quickly saw the mistake and exchanged his records for mine in the first minute of the appointment. I was thereafter careful to check the name on my records and cracked them open every time to make sure I had my own.
When I PCS'ed in 2003, I did indeed crack open my records and checked to make sure the Benefield listed on the outside was described as Eric J. on the inside. Good to go! I hand carried the records to Robbins Air Force Base and in-processed flight medicine right away.
As they were entering my information into the medical system, the records clerk asked me how I liked Augusta, Georgia. I answered, "Don't know, never been there." He responded, "Weren't you born there?" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I grabbed my records back and looked at the top few pages. Eric J. - just as it should be. But, after the first 5-10 pages, Sergeant Benefield! They had been mixing and matching our records for over two years! I would have thought that the medical geniuses who were looking right at me would have picked up on the fact that I am not a 6'4" black man, but at least they figured out that I was not born in Augusta. And I bet Sergeant Benefield was relieved at his next medical appointment to hear that his cholesterol was much better and he could come off the meds, but bad news - the Army had transformed him into a white man!
So now, after the Military medical system has changed my race (and Sergeant Benefield's), they have now changed my blood type! For twenty years, O-negative. Now, O-Positive! When was the mistake made? So today, after the doctor (from Southern India) assured me that I wouldn't collapse my lungs running Thursday, I asked the doctor how this could happen. She was not sure, but sent me to the lab to get blood-typed. People with twenty years service don't get blood-typed, so I am sure Ahmed, the lab technician, is now convinced I am some kind of secret operative or in some kind of military witness protection program. To be fair to Ahmed, I am confused myself.
So, I had to get blood drawn. I am not an "easy stick" and today was not a good day. Ahmed stuck my left arm and began moving that needle as if he had hooked a small mouth bass and was trying to pull it out of my arm. With as little emotion as possible, I told Ahmed, "That is mighty painful." He had trouble understanding me and asked, "It hurts?" I said, "Yes it does. I will jump and down and yell as if I were being tazed if that helps paint the picture." He quickly withdrew the needle and explained that my vein rolled. Oh, well, if I had known that, I would have brought my own clothes pin to hold it in place, but I really had no idea that my blood type was in question and that I would have blood drawn! I just came in with a cough!
Ahmed stuck me in the right arm with great efficiency, drew my blood, and sent me on my way. I did have bandages on both arms, but he gave me a Dragon Tales band-aid for my left arm and that made the small-mouth bass boo-boo all better.
So tonight, I sit here at home unsure if I am positive or negative. Based on past experiences with military medicine, I am braced for any result. I wouldn't be surprised to get my results back and learn that I am pregnant! White to black, negative to positive, why not dad to mom? Just kidding. I just had to share this crazy day with my friends so something good (like a smile or laugh) could come of it.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The thirteen fallen
If you watch the news or read it on the Internet, the only name you will likely see associated with the Memorial Service at Fort Hood today is President Obama's. He will be there, but let us remember the thirteen who will not be there because of Major Hasan.
I have attended a few memorial services over the years and have some advice for all attending, including those who don't like to jump to conclusions.
The Army is a family and there were thirteen deaths in our family last week. Our comradeship and loyalty to one another transcends any political differences and we have been betrayed by Major Hasan and his loyalty to his ideology. The thirteen fallen all made sacrifices to serve and it cost them their lives in a very tragic and unforeseen (by most of us) way. There is going to be a tremendous sorrow at the service, but there is also an unfailing sense of mission. That sense of mission is going to create a ravenous hunger for victory in the Global War on Terror and justice against Major Hasan and all who hold his murderous views. Let us also pray that the president will share that hunger and soon decide whether to send the additional troops to Afghanistan as the ones serving there now fight with resources that do not match their commander's strategy. Let us also pray that the commander in chief will commit to allowing the Army to secure its own force and deny membership to anybody who shares Hasan's views so this doesn't happen again. If just three more soldiers in the Army believe as he does, when will they strike and how many will they kill? My Army does not tolerate those who hate other soldiers and we should not create a blind spot for weirdos like Hasan.
Here are the names of the thirteen who will never share another Thanksgiving or Christmas with their families this side of Heaven. You may have a hard time finding these names elsewhere, so I have provided them in hopes that you will pray for their families as you join with yours in the upcoming holidays.
* 1. Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, Havre de Grace, Md.
* 2. Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, Woodbridge, Va.
* 3. Cpt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, San Diego, Calif.
* 4. Cpt. Russell Seager, 41, Racine, Wis.
* 5. Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, Plymouth, Ind.
* 6. Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, Kiel, Wis.
* 7. Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, Tillman, Okla.
* 8. Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, Mountain City, Tenn.
* 9. PFC Aaron Nemelka, 19, West Jordan, Utah
* 10. PFC Michael Pearson, 22, Bolingbrook, Ill.
* 11. PFC Kham Xiong, 23, St. Paul, Minn.
* 12. Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, Chicago, Ill.
* 13. Michael G. Cahill, Cameron, Texas [civilian]
I have attended a few memorial services over the years and have some advice for all attending, including those who don't like to jump to conclusions.
The Army is a family and there were thirteen deaths in our family last week. Our comradeship and loyalty to one another transcends any political differences and we have been betrayed by Major Hasan and his loyalty to his ideology. The thirteen fallen all made sacrifices to serve and it cost them their lives in a very tragic and unforeseen (by most of us) way. There is going to be a tremendous sorrow at the service, but there is also an unfailing sense of mission. That sense of mission is going to create a ravenous hunger for victory in the Global War on Terror and justice against Major Hasan and all who hold his murderous views. Let us also pray that the president will share that hunger and soon decide whether to send the additional troops to Afghanistan as the ones serving there now fight with resources that do not match their commander's strategy. Let us also pray that the commander in chief will commit to allowing the Army to secure its own force and deny membership to anybody who shares Hasan's views so this doesn't happen again. If just three more soldiers in the Army believe as he does, when will they strike and how many will they kill? My Army does not tolerate those who hate other soldiers and we should not create a blind spot for weirdos like Hasan.
Here are the names of the thirteen who will never share another Thanksgiving or Christmas with their families this side of Heaven. You may have a hard time finding these names elsewhere, so I have provided them in hopes that you will pray for their families as you join with yours in the upcoming holidays.
* 1. Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, Havre de Grace, Md.
* 2. Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, Woodbridge, Va.
* 3. Cpt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, San Diego, Calif.
* 4. Cpt. Russell Seager, 41, Racine, Wis.
* 5. Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, Plymouth, Ind.
* 6. Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, Kiel, Wis.
* 7. Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, Tillman, Okla.
* 8. Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, Mountain City, Tenn.
* 9. PFC Aaron Nemelka, 19, West Jordan, Utah
* 10. PFC Michael Pearson, 22, Bolingbrook, Ill.
* 11. PFC Kham Xiong, 23, St. Paul, Minn.
* 12. Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, Chicago, Ill.
* 13. Michael G. Cahill, Cameron, Texas [civilian]
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Recognizing Evil, from the Heart of a Troubled Christian
Christians must have the courage to call evil by its name. What happened at Fort Hood this week is evil and it should make us angry. Hate like we saw at Fort Hood is always evil. That covers a lot of ground, but let’s walks some of that ground.
Hatred of homosexuals is evil. Racism is evil. Anti-Semitism is evil. Communism is evil. Millions have been murdered in the name of all these brands of hate. As Christians, we are commanded not to murder and there were no caveats for people who do not believe the way we do. We are likewise called to love all people, but we are not called to love all ideologies or all actions. The Bible, the sword of truth, clearly tells us that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus came to Earth to save each of us from our wickedness, not to rename our wickedness. Attack wickedness with the truth!
Since we struggle with what to name this current brand of hate and wickedness, I am going to define the hatred of all who do not follow Islam as “Infidelism”. Infidelism is just as evil as racism, anti-semitism, communisim or any other "ism" that diminishes God’s truth.
Infidelism’s evil was on full display at Fort Hood, Texas this week. I am no longer shocked by evil, but I have been shocked by the unwillingness by so many to call this brand of hate evil. The gunman at Fort Hood is not a good guy who snapped and did something that he regrets and feels remorse for. The gunman at Fort Hood did not commit an act that put him at odds with his beliefs. The gunman at Fort Hood had hate in his heart and acted on that hate. He acted on that hate in a deliberate, methodical, and predictable way. To be angry about what this man did is not hate, but so many seemed to be confused about who the haters are in this situation.
Where did Hasan’s hate come from? His hate came from the lie of Infidelism. Hasan fed that Infidelism for many years and that he acted upon it this week. How did Hasan feed his infidelism? The complete answer to that is still being pieced together, but there are many who are already rushing to dumb down any role radical Islam might have played in shaping Hasan’s views. Ralph Peters wrote an excellent article about this that you can read at http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/fort_hood_xjP9yGrJN7gl7zdsJ31vnJ .
With full conviction that Hasan’s beliefs are a lie, what is the source of that lie? Jesus tells us in John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Jesus is telling us that murder and lies are related because they have the same father in the Devil. We should never forget that.
Jesus is the truth and had no problem calling a lie a lie. Christians know the truth and must be diligent to recognize (and attack) lies. There is no way to reconcile a lie with the truth. When we defend lies, we are trying to serve two masters, the father of truth (God) and the father of lies (Satan). We are to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and defend it from Satan's lies. Christians must attack the lies of the world in order to protect the people who are being lied to. People’s eternity depends on knowing the truth. There is only one way to Heaven, one way to the Father and that is through Jesus. He can save anybody and everybody, but we know that everybody will not choose him. I don’t want anybody to miss knowing Jesus because I didn’t have the courage to attack the particular lie they believe.
I have no problem condemning the lie of Infidelism and calling it evil. I am on firm Biblical ground in doing so. What I can not answer is whether Infidelism is a legitimate teaching of Islam. Muslims are divided on the issue of Infidelism. I know many peace loving Muslims who believe hate is wrong and evil as I do. Their beliefs seem to be more in line with the Christian’s Holy Bible than their own Koran, though. I do know there is Infidelism in a literal interpretation of the Koran and it is hard to follow how peace loving Muslims get around those passages of the Koran. Joel Rosenberg wrote about this in his book, “Inside the Revolution.” He explains the Muslim difference of opinion and measures each side against the Koran. Every Christian (and every other Infidel) should read Rosenberg’s book. Rosenberg even addresses Jesus’s relationship with Muslims. According to hundreds and hundreds of (mostly former) Muslims, Jesus wants them to follow him and has done miraculous things to communicate that to them. Out of obedience to Jesus and out of love for Muslims, I want them to follow him, too.
Righteous anger is not hate, but a loving response on behalf of those who have been wronged. I have experienced much grief, anxiety, and anger over what has transpired at Fort Hood. I am still waiting for the all the names of the dead and wounded to be released as of this writing and do not know whether I will see the names of my friends and former soldiers on that list. As I would not expect somebody to rush into a funeral home to tell a grieving family that the murderer of their loved one is really a good guy, I am likewise not ready to hear a defense of anything about Major Hasan. As I would not expect somebody to rush into the funeral home to tell a grieving family that they are just as evil as the murderer who took their loved one from them, I am not ready to be tolerant of the claim that Christianity is just as evil as Major Hasan’s Infidelism and other arguments of moral equivalency. I am angry and grieved and unwilling to apologize for that. Some may ask, “What about love your enemies and turn the other cheek and forgiveness?” I believe in and live all those scriptures. I do love and pray for enemies, but I don’t excuse evil behavior in that process. Turn the other cheek does not mean to let a gunman kill innocent people - the highest expression of love is to lay down your life for another person. Ironically, Hasan's hate gave some the opportunity to express the highest form of love. I have never withheld forgiveness to anybody who has asked me for it and have extended forgiveness to some who have not asked for it. Major Hasan need not ask for my forgiveness, but for God’s and for the forgiveness of the families of the dead. What a victory for Christ if Major Hasan awoke from his coma, showed remorse, asked forgiveness, changed the beliefs that he acted upon that black day, and gave his life to Christ. I would surely celebrate his decision. What a victory for justice if Major Hasan awakes from his coma and is put to death by a court-martial for his crimes. I would surely celebrate the decision of the court martial. Those outcomes are not mutually exclusive.
My faith and Major Hasan’s faith are mutually exclusive. When I tell you that I follow Jesus, there are clear expectations of me based on what Christ taught us in the Bible and a long, long history of good works in Jesus name. If somebody tells you that he follows Muhammad, is there any way to be sure what that means given the disagreement between Muslims on that very point? When Hasan chants Allahu Akbar as he murders innocents and his cleric says that his actions were unrelated to Islam, the truth of what Islam teaches is hard to discern.
The truth of the Christian faith is that our savior died for us and asks us to live for him. If there was another way to Heaven, God would have never sent Jesus to live, suffer, and die the way He did. If we say there are other ways, we cheapen that sacrifice and we disrespect the truth. If we passively let others believe something different, we have betrayed Jesus as surely as Judas did. The Devil will constantly whisper lies in our ears and give us opportunities to betray our Savior just as he was present when Judas betrayed Christ. We must be on guard against even the most subtle of lies by constantly proclaiming the truth.
In proclaiming the truth, disagreement is not hate. To disagree with Muslims is not hate. To disagree with fellow believers is not hate, but to disagree with the truth is to be wrong. Paul writes to the New Testament churches in complete disagreement with some of their practices and some of the beliefs that creep into their fellowship. Paul holds them accountable to the true meanings of the teachings of Christ and warns them not to stray from them. Since Paul’s time, the church has been a self correcting body based on its obedience to the Bible. That process will continue because as the world changes its truth from day to day, God’s truth is eternal. The entire body of Christ is responsible to guard God’s truth.
God gives each of us a platform from which to guard and proclaim his truth and his love with other believers and non-believers. Each of us are responsible for the platform we are given. I use my Facebook, my blog, and Twitter as part of my platform. I share my daily walk with all who are interested. I do so thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with great diligence to honor what God has done in my life. It is my goal to encourage parents and spouses, challenge believers to walk closer to God, pray for friends, and deepen my own understanding of God’s word. I am always looking for the lessons God wants us to learn from our lives. I share them when I find them. I routinely share my shortcomings in the hopes that others who suffer those shortcomings will likewise turn to God to overcome them. I am responsible for what is presented from my platform and must forewarn all that I am not willing to allow them to use my platform without exercising editing privileges. I do this to protect the clarity of my message. If I find myself in disagreement with my pastor, I do a lot of reading of the Bible before I go back to the pastor. I do not stand up in church to voice my disagreement right there, but go point to point (in person or via email) to reconcile our points of view and gain clarity. I respect the pastor’s platform. I would challenge every believer to likewise honor the platform that God gives you and never take lightly what you present as truth.
There are thirteen grieving families and thirty more families at Fort Hood who need our prayers and need the truth. I take that very seriously and promise to show the courage to do anything I can to prevent this from happening again.
Hatred of homosexuals is evil. Racism is evil. Anti-Semitism is evil. Communism is evil. Millions have been murdered in the name of all these brands of hate. As Christians, we are commanded not to murder and there were no caveats for people who do not believe the way we do. We are likewise called to love all people, but we are not called to love all ideologies or all actions. The Bible, the sword of truth, clearly tells us that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus came to Earth to save each of us from our wickedness, not to rename our wickedness. Attack wickedness with the truth!
Since we struggle with what to name this current brand of hate and wickedness, I am going to define the hatred of all who do not follow Islam as “Infidelism”. Infidelism is just as evil as racism, anti-semitism, communisim or any other "ism" that diminishes God’s truth.
Infidelism’s evil was on full display at Fort Hood, Texas this week. I am no longer shocked by evil, but I have been shocked by the unwillingness by so many to call this brand of hate evil. The gunman at Fort Hood is not a good guy who snapped and did something that he regrets and feels remorse for. The gunman at Fort Hood did not commit an act that put him at odds with his beliefs. The gunman at Fort Hood had hate in his heart and acted on that hate. He acted on that hate in a deliberate, methodical, and predictable way. To be angry about what this man did is not hate, but so many seemed to be confused about who the haters are in this situation.
Where did Hasan’s hate come from? His hate came from the lie of Infidelism. Hasan fed that Infidelism for many years and that he acted upon it this week. How did Hasan feed his infidelism? The complete answer to that is still being pieced together, but there are many who are already rushing to dumb down any role radical Islam might have played in shaping Hasan’s views. Ralph Peters wrote an excellent article about this that you can read at http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/fort_hood_xjP9yGrJN7gl7zdsJ31vnJ .
With full conviction that Hasan’s beliefs are a lie, what is the source of that lie? Jesus tells us in John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Jesus is telling us that murder and lies are related because they have the same father in the Devil. We should never forget that.
Jesus is the truth and had no problem calling a lie a lie. Christians know the truth and must be diligent to recognize (and attack) lies. There is no way to reconcile a lie with the truth. When we defend lies, we are trying to serve two masters, the father of truth (God) and the father of lies (Satan). We are to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and defend it from Satan's lies. Christians must attack the lies of the world in order to protect the people who are being lied to. People’s eternity depends on knowing the truth. There is only one way to Heaven, one way to the Father and that is through Jesus. He can save anybody and everybody, but we know that everybody will not choose him. I don’t want anybody to miss knowing Jesus because I didn’t have the courage to attack the particular lie they believe.
I have no problem condemning the lie of Infidelism and calling it evil. I am on firm Biblical ground in doing so. What I can not answer is whether Infidelism is a legitimate teaching of Islam. Muslims are divided on the issue of Infidelism. I know many peace loving Muslims who believe hate is wrong and evil as I do. Their beliefs seem to be more in line with the Christian’s Holy Bible than their own Koran, though. I do know there is Infidelism in a literal interpretation of the Koran and it is hard to follow how peace loving Muslims get around those passages of the Koran. Joel Rosenberg wrote about this in his book, “Inside the Revolution.” He explains the Muslim difference of opinion and measures each side against the Koran. Every Christian (and every other Infidel) should read Rosenberg’s book. Rosenberg even addresses Jesus’s relationship with Muslims. According to hundreds and hundreds of (mostly former) Muslims, Jesus wants them to follow him and has done miraculous things to communicate that to them. Out of obedience to Jesus and out of love for Muslims, I want them to follow him, too.
Righteous anger is not hate, but a loving response on behalf of those who have been wronged. I have experienced much grief, anxiety, and anger over what has transpired at Fort Hood. I am still waiting for the all the names of the dead and wounded to be released as of this writing and do not know whether I will see the names of my friends and former soldiers on that list. As I would not expect somebody to rush into a funeral home to tell a grieving family that the murderer of their loved one is really a good guy, I am likewise not ready to hear a defense of anything about Major Hasan. As I would not expect somebody to rush into the funeral home to tell a grieving family that they are just as evil as the murderer who took their loved one from them, I am not ready to be tolerant of the claim that Christianity is just as evil as Major Hasan’s Infidelism and other arguments of moral equivalency. I am angry and grieved and unwilling to apologize for that. Some may ask, “What about love your enemies and turn the other cheek and forgiveness?” I believe in and live all those scriptures. I do love and pray for enemies, but I don’t excuse evil behavior in that process. Turn the other cheek does not mean to let a gunman kill innocent people - the highest expression of love is to lay down your life for another person. Ironically, Hasan's hate gave some the opportunity to express the highest form of love. I have never withheld forgiveness to anybody who has asked me for it and have extended forgiveness to some who have not asked for it. Major Hasan need not ask for my forgiveness, but for God’s and for the forgiveness of the families of the dead. What a victory for Christ if Major Hasan awoke from his coma, showed remorse, asked forgiveness, changed the beliefs that he acted upon that black day, and gave his life to Christ. I would surely celebrate his decision. What a victory for justice if Major Hasan awakes from his coma and is put to death by a court-martial for his crimes. I would surely celebrate the decision of the court martial. Those outcomes are not mutually exclusive.
My faith and Major Hasan’s faith are mutually exclusive. When I tell you that I follow Jesus, there are clear expectations of me based on what Christ taught us in the Bible and a long, long history of good works in Jesus name. If somebody tells you that he follows Muhammad, is there any way to be sure what that means given the disagreement between Muslims on that very point? When Hasan chants Allahu Akbar as he murders innocents and his cleric says that his actions were unrelated to Islam, the truth of what Islam teaches is hard to discern.
The truth of the Christian faith is that our savior died for us and asks us to live for him. If there was another way to Heaven, God would have never sent Jesus to live, suffer, and die the way He did. If we say there are other ways, we cheapen that sacrifice and we disrespect the truth. If we passively let others believe something different, we have betrayed Jesus as surely as Judas did. The Devil will constantly whisper lies in our ears and give us opportunities to betray our Savior just as he was present when Judas betrayed Christ. We must be on guard against even the most subtle of lies by constantly proclaiming the truth.
In proclaiming the truth, disagreement is not hate. To disagree with Muslims is not hate. To disagree with fellow believers is not hate, but to disagree with the truth is to be wrong. Paul writes to the New Testament churches in complete disagreement with some of their practices and some of the beliefs that creep into their fellowship. Paul holds them accountable to the true meanings of the teachings of Christ and warns them not to stray from them. Since Paul’s time, the church has been a self correcting body based on its obedience to the Bible. That process will continue because as the world changes its truth from day to day, God’s truth is eternal. The entire body of Christ is responsible to guard God’s truth.
God gives each of us a platform from which to guard and proclaim his truth and his love with other believers and non-believers. Each of us are responsible for the platform we are given. I use my Facebook, my blog, and Twitter as part of my platform. I share my daily walk with all who are interested. I do so thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with great diligence to honor what God has done in my life. It is my goal to encourage parents and spouses, challenge believers to walk closer to God, pray for friends, and deepen my own understanding of God’s word. I am always looking for the lessons God wants us to learn from our lives. I share them when I find them. I routinely share my shortcomings in the hopes that others who suffer those shortcomings will likewise turn to God to overcome them. I am responsible for what is presented from my platform and must forewarn all that I am not willing to allow them to use my platform without exercising editing privileges. I do this to protect the clarity of my message. If I find myself in disagreement with my pastor, I do a lot of reading of the Bible before I go back to the pastor. I do not stand up in church to voice my disagreement right there, but go point to point (in person or via email) to reconcile our points of view and gain clarity. I respect the pastor’s platform. I would challenge every believer to likewise honor the platform that God gives you and never take lightly what you present as truth.
There are thirteen grieving families and thirty more families at Fort Hood who need our prayers and need the truth. I take that very seriously and promise to show the courage to do anything I can to prevent this from happening again.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween highlights
The Scooby Doo gang went to the Fall Festival at church and then around the block for trick or treating. Things went fairly well.
Freddie did almost get into a fight with a speeding hybrid car that was endangering the kids, though. I am not sure how scary it is to have Fred from Scooby Doo step in front of your car and yell for you to slow down, but that was somebody's Halloween fright. You usually don't see somebody drive that fast in our neighborhood without a pizza sign on their car, so not sure who that was - maybe I scared off some criminals looking to steal sunglasses and GPSes.
Freddie also had to stare down a mean dog barking at the kids! Did he think Scooby was real? He was probably harmless, but he seemed to be trick or treating with us - not cool for Dad or Fred.
Scooby, Shaggy, and Daffney all had excellent manners (I know -it shocks me, too), but Daffney and Shaggy did take off with Hannah Montana and Bumble Bee and leave Scooby with Freddy. Little brother and Dad just aren't very cool no matter how they are disguised. We stayed within hand grenade range, though.
Freddy did have to carry Scooby's candy bucket and eventually had to carry Scooby on his shoulder. Fred got Scooby-tooted, but Scooby did issue a "Scuse me."
Velma sent a half eaten moon pie home with some kid(our neighbor) by mistake. Hopefully we don't get tricked for that, but I think we are safe.
There was one Halloween trick.
Jay Allen has a very accurate inventory of his Halloween candy. If somebody takes a single piece, he knows. This morning, he came to the family and wanted to know why he only had seven packs of Whoppers when he had eight at bedtime last night. There was a moment of silence, and then the culprit confessed. Cammie did it! I found some Whoppers on the way home from work and replaced the stolen goods - so Cammie owes me.
That is all. Until next Halloween - BOO!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Hardly Halloween
We had a good night at the Hardly Haunted House this past Monday. The kids were not impressed with the orange trash bags full of pine straw - that was the scariest thing on the hay ride, except for the scary smell that James produced.
We had a bad night on the way home. I decided we needed some pumpkin pie and we went to the grocery store to get one. James was a bit naughty in the store and then wouldn't buckle in his seat. I directed him to sit and buckle and he refused.
As I went around the van to threaten him and buckle him in, somebody (I suspect James) closed the van door on me. I bumped the door so it wouldn't close, but it came back at me and pinched my head in the door (Cammie accuses me of saying this as if the door is possessed - maybe it was). This time, I flung the door back while it growled and beeped and feel completely off the lower rail. There was only one point of attachment left; the door was now broken. By the way, Cammie was wishing her dad happy birthday on the phone while I was having war with James and Lucky -wish she had told me that before I flung the door. I had to take the door in my hands and pull it to my body and fasten it in position so we didn't have to ride home with the door open. It would have been very similar to a seats-in, doors open Air Assault from my days in the 101st, but Lucky's crew chief, Cammie, no-go'ed this idea. Jay Allen announced on the way home, "I think you broke the door." I just said, "Thank you, son. Really. You think its broke. Is that why it was growling at me and beeping and making that clicking noise?" I was not ready to be critiqued. When we got home, I attempted to get the Grand Caravan door back on its rails for two hours with no luck. It was dark, the ground was wet, and my attitude was not good.
As I was telling Cammie what I wrote on Facebook, I think I got to the bottom of who closed the door on me the first time. She says she opened the door, but I explained that I had done that before I got out of the driver's seat, so when she pressed the button, that was a close. I said no four letter words, but I didn't say much nice either. Cammie thought all of this was hilarious and it was funny to me by the time I got to bed - exhausted from spending two hours trying to get the van door back on the rails. Cammie would had jumped a curb to take off with my head caught in the door if she thought of it and that would have made a better blog, but she didn't think of that until her brother brought it up.
I briefly put Lucky for sale, but does anybody really wanna buy a used minivan that has been rear-ended by a bus, caught on fire (mirror melted off), had its windshield blow out in the driveway, jumped an island at the bank, jumped a curb at a Mexican restaurant (without Margarita assistance), been soaked in gasoline (not related to the fire incident), and ha...s tried to pinch its owner's head in the side door during a disciplinary event. Its name is LUCKY!
I took Lucky off the market after I got her door back on the rails. It took a little blood and some grunting, but no profanity or broken tools!
After the hayride and Lucky adventure, the kids asked me to produce the first running of HomeDaddy's Haunted House on Tuesday. Jay Allen, who was the loudest requester, wouldn't even come down the steps when it was ready. It wasn't too bad - A jack o lantern with a wig and a head in my lunch box and some candles and compressed air (from a can, not the kind James deployed on the hayride). I thought we fell short of the nightmare threshold and the kids were pleased, but Carlie did report a bad dream about a balloon the next morning.
Night 2 of Home Daddy's Haunted House was more intense! I boiled Scooby Doo (James's costume) on the oven, hung lifeless flight suits from the ceiling, substituted balloons for heads, and scared my children to the point of involuntary bodily functions. I wore a plastic hulk mask and my wild rock and roll hair. I looked like a professional wrestler other than my pajama pants and my UNC Tar Heel house shoes. They were very excited about our scare show and wanted to bring their friends over Friday night to be scared. More terror on Yukon Road!
The first open to the public Home Daddy's Haunted House was a big success. My kids thought it was the scariest one yet and the neighbor kids squealed - in delight or fright, I am not sure. I converted the turtle shell for our minivan into a coffin and laid at rest under a poncho liner (woobee) until the kids came by. I used compressed air (from a can) to draw their attention to me just before I leapt out in my SAS faceover (a tubular ski mask type device) and my rock and roll hair and my desert flight suit. Horror for all. Jay Allen and his buddy Stephen came unglued! The girls were also scared, but did not cling to their mothers and start crying. The neighbor kids had never seen the wild hair or faceover and did not like it even with the lights on.
My kids were pleased with my efforts to scare them and have secured my services for next year. If anybody else out there needs to be scared, just give me a call.
We had a bad night on the way home. I decided we needed some pumpkin pie and we went to the grocery store to get one. James was a bit naughty in the store and then wouldn't buckle in his seat. I directed him to sit and buckle and he refused.
As I went around the van to threaten him and buckle him in, somebody (I suspect James) closed the van door on me. I bumped the door so it wouldn't close, but it came back at me and pinched my head in the door (Cammie accuses me of saying this as if the door is possessed - maybe it was). This time, I flung the door back while it growled and beeped and feel completely off the lower rail. There was only one point of attachment left; the door was now broken. By the way, Cammie was wishing her dad happy birthday on the phone while I was having war with James and Lucky -wish she had told me that before I flung the door. I had to take the door in my hands and pull it to my body and fasten it in position so we didn't have to ride home with the door open. It would have been very similar to a seats-in, doors open Air Assault from my days in the 101st, but Lucky's crew chief, Cammie, no-go'ed this idea. Jay Allen announced on the way home, "I think you broke the door." I just said, "Thank you, son. Really. You think its broke. Is that why it was growling at me and beeping and making that clicking noise?" I was not ready to be critiqued. When we got home, I attempted to get the Grand Caravan door back on its rails for two hours with no luck. It was dark, the ground was wet, and my attitude was not good.
As I was telling Cammie what I wrote on Facebook, I think I got to the bottom of who closed the door on me the first time. She says she opened the door, but I explained that I had done that before I got out of the driver's seat, so when she pressed the button, that was a close. I said no four letter words, but I didn't say much nice either. Cammie thought all of this was hilarious and it was funny to me by the time I got to bed - exhausted from spending two hours trying to get the van door back on the rails. Cammie would had jumped a curb to take off with my head caught in the door if she thought of it and that would have made a better blog, but she didn't think of that until her brother brought it up.
I briefly put Lucky for sale, but does anybody really wanna buy a used minivan that has been rear-ended by a bus, caught on fire (mirror melted off), had its windshield blow out in the driveway, jumped an island at the bank, jumped a curb at a Mexican restaurant (without Margarita assistance), been soaked in gasoline (not related to the fire incident), and ha...s tried to pinch its owner's head in the side door during a disciplinary event. Its name is LUCKY!
I took Lucky off the market after I got her door back on the rails. It took a little blood and some grunting, but no profanity or broken tools!
After the hayride and Lucky adventure, the kids asked me to produce the first running of HomeDaddy's Haunted House on Tuesday. Jay Allen, who was the loudest requester, wouldn't even come down the steps when it was ready. It wasn't too bad - A jack o lantern with a wig and a head in my lunch box and some candles and compressed air (from a can, not the kind James deployed on the hayride). I thought we fell short of the nightmare threshold and the kids were pleased, but Carlie did report a bad dream about a balloon the next morning.
Night 2 of Home Daddy's Haunted House was more intense! I boiled Scooby Doo (James's costume) on the oven, hung lifeless flight suits from the ceiling, substituted balloons for heads, and scared my children to the point of involuntary bodily functions. I wore a plastic hulk mask and my wild rock and roll hair. I looked like a professional wrestler other than my pajama pants and my UNC Tar Heel house shoes. They were very excited about our scare show and wanted to bring their friends over Friday night to be scared. More terror on Yukon Road!
The first open to the public Home Daddy's Haunted House was a big success. My kids thought it was the scariest one yet and the neighbor kids squealed - in delight or fright, I am not sure. I converted the turtle shell for our minivan into a coffin and laid at rest under a poncho liner (woobee) until the kids came by. I used compressed air (from a can) to draw their attention to me just before I leapt out in my SAS faceover (a tubular ski mask type device) and my rock and roll hair and my desert flight suit. Horror for all. Jay Allen and his buddy Stephen came unglued! The girls were also scared, but did not cling to their mothers and start crying. The neighbor kids had never seen the wild hair or faceover and did not like it even with the lights on.
My kids were pleased with my efforts to scare them and have secured my services for next year. If anybody else out there needs to be scared, just give me a call.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Elements of Greatness
What made LTC Lloyd Mills the Bear Bryant of BN Commanders
I want to lay out what I believe are the elements of LTC Lloyd Mills’s greatness. These elements complement each other and may overlap. They are from my experience and recollection as a member of his battalion during his entire command. As I have studied Bear Bryant and the tremendous changes he made in people’s lives, I realized that Lloyd Mills had that kind of impact on his men. I was a weak to mediocre lieutenant who had the chance to learn from one of the greatest leaders in the Army. I would like to believe that in spite of myself, LTC Mills’s leadership changed the direction of my career and my life.The Like Tactical Mindset
LTC Mills was a master trainer and the one driving idea behind his training philosophy was the “LIKE TACTICAL MINDSET.” Through thorough planning and repetition of execution, LTC Mills made sure each one of his platoons and companies executed their Mission Essential Tasks in a very similar manner. All of his platoons were not identical, but they all knew what the battalion commander expected them to do when he gave them a mission. This idea also gave each unit confidence in the units on their left and right and an understanding of how they would be executing their mission. I would be willing to bet that you would still find wide spread agreement between LTC Mills’s former officers on how to execute those Mission Essential Tasks.Unfailing Loyalty
Because I served as his Adjutant, I had the privilege of seeing how hard LTC Mills worked to get each of his commanders a good report card. The maddest I ever remember seeing him was after failing to convince the Brigade Commander to reward one of his top commanders with a good officer evaluation report. He went to bat for his men time after time, probably, had he lived long enough, to the detriment of his career. I never forgot that and what it meant to his battalion.High Expectations
When LTC Mills took over our battalion, he did not measure where we were as a unit and calibrate his expectations accordingly. LTC Mills laid down his expectations of the unit and each soldier and forged the 3-327th into the best Infantry Battalion in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault!). If he had dumbed down his expectations to match the kind of unit he inherited, then we would have been mired in mediocrity as a group and as individuals. He never allowed us to fall short and we were all the better for it.Professionalism
Consistent professionalism was part and parcel to LTC Mills’s high expectations. This professionalism was also known to his officers as “CHEESE”, we knew that every training event and every social event and every ceremony that we put on had to be first rate. You could go to any range, and dining out, or any retirement and see that professionalism on display. Unfortunately, my enduring memory of the capstone of his demand for professionalism was his own memorial service. I am proud to say that LTC Mills’s professionalism did rub off on his officers and lived on with them in the Army and in the civilian world.Competitiveness
You have to compete with your peers to be the best. LTC Mills had great personal humility, but great pride in his unit and wanted us to be the best in everything. He made us want to be the best in everything as well, whether it was basketball against a sister battalion or performing better at JRTC (which was much more important to us), we strove to work hard enough to be the best at everything we did. I think everybody who served in his battalion believed we were the best and many outside of the battalion conceded that to us. It was the drive of our commander that made us the best.Showmanship
One of the reasons soldiers followed Lloyd Mills is because it was fun to follow him. He would always make the soldiers proud of him and proud of the unit. I remember at Eric Lyman’s promotion to 1st Lieutenant that a push-up challenge arose between Eric and LTC Mills. LTC Mills matched him push-up for push-up and then, started doing his push ups one-armed. The battalion went nuts! It was a great memory and made us all realize that we better come ready if we were going to challenge the commander!Confidence in his Men
Another hallmark of LTC Mills’s tenure as the Battleforce commander was his confidence in his men. It was this confidence that allowed the battalion to reach its potential and forged the strong bond between men and commander that I have not seen since. I think the most famous example of this confidence was the story of the trip to Panama. It was highly unusual for units visiting the Jungle Training Center to get time off to go into town because of all the potential for trouble. LTC Mills carried his entire battalion into town, let his boys loose, and they responded by staying out of trouble and returning on time without incident. I think that was a first, but its no surprise that Lloyd Mills battalion was the first battalion to pull that off.The Great Motivator
Many leaders can get the most out of their top performers, but LTC Mills seemed to get the most out of each member of his battalion. We were not organized to be what most would consider an elite unit, but LTC Mills masterfully elevated our status by motivating us to be the best. I think the most telling evidence that we were all driven to be the best is that we imitated the best. Almost every member of the battalion had a LTC Mills impersonation. Some were better than others, but when we impersonated LTC Mills it was because we truly wanted to be like him.Mission Focus
LTC Mills was not only a great leader and motivator, but he led us in the right direction. His focus on our mission gave purpose to everything we did. Each element of greatness that I have outlined made our unit great at accomplishing our mission. If we were not good at our combat mission, then none of these other things I am sharing with you would matter. I am proud to say that I have been called a zealot about accomplishing my mission during the course of my career. I learned that from the best.Beer
Anybody who remembers LTC Mills, remembers him with a beer in his hand. A Stroh’s beer. He used beer more effectively than any commander I have ever met. When his officers gathered, we drank beer. When he met with the Command Sergeant Major, they drank beer. When we gathered for officer professional developments, we drank beer. We all drank the LTC Mills Kool-aid and that Kool-aid came in a Stroh’s beer can!Thursday, October 15, 2009
Fashion fo-paw
For those of you who know me well, fashion conscious is probably not the first words that come to mind when you think of me. On my recent trip to Atlanta, I was the victim of a funny misunderstanding that led to me being distinctively out of place. The conference I attended had a “no-host social” so we asked for the proper attire and were told “duty uniform”. Well, when my fellow Army team mate and I showed up, we were the only two in uniform and all the folks in civilian clothes had a laugh at our expense. I am not the one to pay somebody back for an honest mistake and want to assure the gentleman who mis-communicated the proper attire to us that the social events in DC really do have a required dress code of flip flops and a light coat of oil! Because I had planned on wearing my uniform to this event before I packed, I would have actually had to wear my orange Crocs (formally known as the Christi Jaggers after a friend who despises Crocs in general and mine in particular) if he corrected the mistake the day of the event. No great harm, but we sure did look like ding-dongs. Many thanks to LTC Patterson for being a team player and a good sport!
The latest from the Benefields
To get our story started, I will tell you that James broke yet another set of my sunglasses. He is a destructo! I bought some sturdier glasses and tried to scare James out of touching them. We will see!
Jay Allen had his bowling birthday party Monday. All the kids had a great time and did a great job bowling. Carlie had the high score, smoking the boys. Jay Allen and Timmy tied for the high score for boys, but fun was had by all, even Robert who fell down and Thomas who shot-putted the bowling ball.
Carlie went to dinner in a limo! Our neighbors won some kind of VIP promotion from a local Japanese restaurant and invited daughter to go with them. Part of the deal was a limo ride to the restaurant. None of the kids knew about the limo and pandemonium broke out when it pulled up. Their son, Steven, yelled, “there’s a limo outside!” and ran out and jumped in! The rest of the family followed and had a great dinner. Carlie ate a lot of shrimp (her favorite) and gave us a full report! Thanks to our neighbors for their hospitality.
The day I was leaving on a trip, James just produced some horror movie quality projectile vomit. So, we had to have a re-do on dinner. He sprayed chocolate milk on our subway sandwiches, though I tried to convince the big kids that a few chips survived the blast intact. I also tried to convince Jay Allen that his white milk would be ok as second-hand chocolate milk, but he wouldn’t buy it. My little man was not pleased that we all laughed (and gagged) at his hurl-a-thon.
On a different note, Angie found my Carolina hat. Angie and her crew brought it back to me when they came to visit a week or two ago. On my flight home from Atlanta today, I found myself sitting in front of an infant who was completely fascinated with my recently recovered Carolina hat. There was a delay taking off, so I had to hear commentary on every plane landing and taking off, too. “There comes another one. They have us over here and the planes are taking off over there. Where are they going to put all of these airplanes?” And that was not coming from the infant, that was from the old lady sitting a row back. She especially cracked me up when she yelled, “BUCKLE UP!” just before we began our take-off. I guess she missed the safety brief and forgot that everybody was buckled. The infant boy was virtually silent during the flight and he and I became fast friends. I put my Carolina hat on him and he spun his hands and squealed in delight. I regret that I had no Crimson Tide wear to share with that precious little Yankee baby. I am afraid he is doomed to become a Michigan State fan (according to his mother), but maybe the Carolina hat made enough of an impression to save his fanhood!
We had the meanest flight attendant I have ever dealt with. She tried to stop me from helping a lady put her luggage in the overhead because “I was not insured”, but I assured her that as a government employee that the bag stowage would not be the most dangerous thing I had done recently (though arguing with her may have been). She also sent an elderly gentlemen back to his seat when he got up to use the bathroom. He flagged down the other, kinder, gentler flight attendant and told her, “I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM AND THE SEAT BELT SIGN IS ON!” The compassionate flight attendant told him to just go, not understanding why it was such a dilemma. He explained, “I tried and she (pointing to Attila the Hunette) sent me back to my seat.” The kind flight attendant sent him to the forward lav. I am glad he made it through that ordeal without any accidents! After witnessing this event, there formed a substantial line at the forward lav and a conspicuous absence of a line at the aft lav. I may have to change airlines if I have to fly with Attila the Hunette again. She is scarier than Drill Sergeant Rios from my basic training twenty years ago!
Twenty years ago! I am getting older. For the past few weeks, God has made me confront the fact that there are some days that I can not do all that I could when I was young. I had to skip the Army Ten Miler because I had just gotten over the flu – that would not have stopped me ten years ago. I had to lighten up my workouts because I just could not push quite as hard. I was dog tired each night after work. I just had to face the fact that I have new limitations. As I had come to grips with this, I got a call from one of my dearest old friends who is a cancer survivor – I will withhold his name so as not to embarrass him with this written display of affection. He had been dealing with his new limits as a result of his cancer treatments and associated side effects. First, I told him that I was just very thankful to have him around to suffer side effects from treatment. Then, I shared my new found wisdom with him and told him to focus on what he could do and not on his limitations. I think my friend appreciated that and I hope to have him around for a long, long time, side effects and all. His situation also put my struggles into perspective. I am thankful for the life God has given me and my friends and will always try to focus on what we can do with it instead of what is beyond us.
One of the new talents my friend may have due to a “lazy eye” is shooting around corners. I sure wish he had that talent when we served together at Fort Polk! It would have been very handy in shooting at BLUFOR from Shughart Gordon! He says his right eye can read billboards off the side of the road while his left eye is trained straight on the road ahead. That sounds sort of SUPER-HERO ish to me. All of the Geronimos I served with are Super Heros and some are still getting new powers, so no surprise there.
I had the opportunity to participate in Rick and Bubba’s sponsor drive for World Vision on 15 October 2009 via telephone. It was a great event and I was personally honored to have part in it. Because I was on government business and travelling, I had to call in from a hotel room. I used the hotel phone because the only cell phone I had was a government phone and I did not want to mis-use government equipment or even give that appearance. World Vision is actually a Combined Federal Campaign charity, making the phone call acceptable, but I still wanted to be extra diligent with the tax payer’s funds.
When I went to check out, I asked the concierge to take that phone call off my bill and let me pay that separately. I asked how much the call was and could not hide my sticker shock at the price of $17. Wow! I told him that was OK, just more than I expected. He did not understand why I wanted to pay it separately, so I explained to him that I had called the Rick and Bubba show to talk about World Vision. The concierge was from Alabama and a fan of the Rick and Bubba show. He also asked me about World Vision and gave me a chance to share their great work with him. He took a brochure and an ink pen and took the $17 phone call off my bill entirely – on the house! I count that as multiple victories and feel that God created that situation by making me uncomfortable using my government cell phone to call in. He truly moves in mysterious ways.
More fevers and puking at our house upon my return! I took immediate action and turned all the chairs at the table out so if any of the kids spew again, it won't go on our dinner! Carlie and Jay Allen are feverish and James is recovering. Cammie and I are still standing, but feeling the effects of all the sickness in the house. That is what’s going on with the Benefields for the moment. More later…
Jay Allen had his bowling birthday party Monday. All the kids had a great time and did a great job bowling. Carlie had the high score, smoking the boys. Jay Allen and Timmy tied for the high score for boys, but fun was had by all, even Robert who fell down and Thomas who shot-putted the bowling ball.
Carlie went to dinner in a limo! Our neighbors won some kind of VIP promotion from a local Japanese restaurant and invited daughter to go with them. Part of the deal was a limo ride to the restaurant. None of the kids knew about the limo and pandemonium broke out when it pulled up. Their son, Steven, yelled, “there’s a limo outside!” and ran out and jumped in! The rest of the family followed and had a great dinner. Carlie ate a lot of shrimp (her favorite) and gave us a full report! Thanks to our neighbors for their hospitality.
The day I was leaving on a trip, James just produced some horror movie quality projectile vomit. So, we had to have a re-do on dinner. He sprayed chocolate milk on our subway sandwiches, though I tried to convince the big kids that a few chips survived the blast intact. I also tried to convince Jay Allen that his white milk would be ok as second-hand chocolate milk, but he wouldn’t buy it. My little man was not pleased that we all laughed (and gagged) at his hurl-a-thon.
On a different note, Angie found my Carolina hat. Angie and her crew brought it back to me when they came to visit a week or two ago. On my flight home from Atlanta today, I found myself sitting in front of an infant who was completely fascinated with my recently recovered Carolina hat. There was a delay taking off, so I had to hear commentary on every plane landing and taking off, too. “There comes another one. They have us over here and the planes are taking off over there. Where are they going to put all of these airplanes?” And that was not coming from the infant, that was from the old lady sitting a row back. She especially cracked me up when she yelled, “BUCKLE UP!” just before we began our take-off. I guess she missed the safety brief and forgot that everybody was buckled. The infant boy was virtually silent during the flight and he and I became fast friends. I put my Carolina hat on him and he spun his hands and squealed in delight. I regret that I had no Crimson Tide wear to share with that precious little Yankee baby. I am afraid he is doomed to become a Michigan State fan (according to his mother), but maybe the Carolina hat made enough of an impression to save his fanhood!
We had the meanest flight attendant I have ever dealt with. She tried to stop me from helping a lady put her luggage in the overhead because “I was not insured”, but I assured her that as a government employee that the bag stowage would not be the most dangerous thing I had done recently (though arguing with her may have been). She also sent an elderly gentlemen back to his seat when he got up to use the bathroom. He flagged down the other, kinder, gentler flight attendant and told her, “I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM AND THE SEAT BELT SIGN IS ON!” The compassionate flight attendant told him to just go, not understanding why it was such a dilemma. He explained, “I tried and she (pointing to Attila the Hunette) sent me back to my seat.” The kind flight attendant sent him to the forward lav. I am glad he made it through that ordeal without any accidents! After witnessing this event, there formed a substantial line at the forward lav and a conspicuous absence of a line at the aft lav. I may have to change airlines if I have to fly with Attila the Hunette again. She is scarier than Drill Sergeant Rios from my basic training twenty years ago!
Twenty years ago! I am getting older. For the past few weeks, God has made me confront the fact that there are some days that I can not do all that I could when I was young. I had to skip the Army Ten Miler because I had just gotten over the flu – that would not have stopped me ten years ago. I had to lighten up my workouts because I just could not push quite as hard. I was dog tired each night after work. I just had to face the fact that I have new limitations. As I had come to grips with this, I got a call from one of my dearest old friends who is a cancer survivor – I will withhold his name so as not to embarrass him with this written display of affection. He had been dealing with his new limits as a result of his cancer treatments and associated side effects. First, I told him that I was just very thankful to have him around to suffer side effects from treatment. Then, I shared my new found wisdom with him and told him to focus on what he could do and not on his limitations. I think my friend appreciated that and I hope to have him around for a long, long time, side effects and all. His situation also put my struggles into perspective. I am thankful for the life God has given me and my friends and will always try to focus on what we can do with it instead of what is beyond us.
One of the new talents my friend may have due to a “lazy eye” is shooting around corners. I sure wish he had that talent when we served together at Fort Polk! It would have been very handy in shooting at BLUFOR from Shughart Gordon! He says his right eye can read billboards off the side of the road while his left eye is trained straight on the road ahead. That sounds sort of SUPER-HERO ish to me. All of the Geronimos I served with are Super Heros and some are still getting new powers, so no surprise there.
I had the opportunity to participate in Rick and Bubba’s sponsor drive for World Vision on 15 October 2009 via telephone. It was a great event and I was personally honored to have part in it. Because I was on government business and travelling, I had to call in from a hotel room. I used the hotel phone because the only cell phone I had was a government phone and I did not want to mis-use government equipment or even give that appearance. World Vision is actually a Combined Federal Campaign charity, making the phone call acceptable, but I still wanted to be extra diligent with the tax payer’s funds.
When I went to check out, I asked the concierge to take that phone call off my bill and let me pay that separately. I asked how much the call was and could not hide my sticker shock at the price of $17. Wow! I told him that was OK, just more than I expected. He did not understand why I wanted to pay it separately, so I explained to him that I had called the Rick and Bubba show to talk about World Vision. The concierge was from Alabama and a fan of the Rick and Bubba show. He also asked me about World Vision and gave me a chance to share their great work with him. He took a brochure and an ink pen and took the $17 phone call off my bill entirely – on the house! I count that as multiple victories and feel that God created that situation by making me uncomfortable using my government cell phone to call in. He truly moves in mysterious ways.
More fevers and puking at our house upon my return! I took immediate action and turned all the chairs at the table out so if any of the kids spew again, it won't go on our dinner! Carlie and Jay Allen are feverish and James is recovering. Cammie and I are still standing, but feeling the effects of all the sickness in the house. That is what’s going on with the Benefields for the moment. More later…
Monday, October 12, 2009
Broken Glasses and old hats
James broke yet another set of my sunglasses. He is a destructo!
I found my Carolina hat. Angie and her crew brought it back to me.
Jay Allen had his bowling birthday party today.
Carlie went to dinner in a limo!
I will expand on these themes later!
I found my Carolina hat. Angie and her crew brought it back to me.
Jay Allen had his bowling birthday party today.
Carlie went to dinner in a limo!
I will expand on these themes later!
Monday, September 14, 2009
School days
Jay Allen and Carlie started school last week and tomorrow is James's first day. So far, everybody is doing well (not sure if I could honestly write that by this time tomorrow).
Carlie is an accelerated reader and is doing well in all subjects. She still enjoys art more than all others. There is no sign of her little boyfriend from last year, Mauricio, but I am sure he will make an appearance soon.
Jay Allen likes riding the bus because he doesn't have to wear a seat belt. He also said he got nervous on the first day and got the toots! I advised him how to conduct himself in case a loud one erupted - point to the kids next to him and in Dave Shasteen fashion, say, "HE DID IT!"
We are worried James will be in trouble for calling somebody a "Crack Nut" or pinching or biting somebody at school. He is doing a lot of that at home and we have been unable to deter him. Unfortunately, he already has a close personal bond with the people in the Principal's office at pre-school from all the time he spent with them last year. He is unafraid of being sent to the Principal. The office workers think he is so cute and funny and he thinks its cool that they always entertain him (even after he gets in trouble). If that reminds you all of AJ, exactly!
After this past weekend, we are ready for those kids to be in a routine. While I was in the bathroom, the boys made a "slip and slide" in my living room with a large cardboard box (and lots of water) and broke up some packing materials (that white plastic Styrofoam). So, they planned my whole morning for me, vacuuming up white Styrofoam beads and drying up the water. Cammie was not pleased when she got home. I had to ask her to leave because I was already overloaded with frustration from the boys without being reminded of everything I had done wrong in the 25 minutes (not an exaggeration) that she had been gone.
To make sure this never happened again, I sent the boys to their rooms and then threw all their toys and books and clothes on the floor in their room and made them clean it all up. James was beside himself that "Daddy tow up my wooom!" Jay Allen just matter of factly told his mother, "He tore my room up, too." I think I got the point across, but I don't recommend that technique with potty training children.
Our pastor's daughter came home with us yesterday because her little sister was in the hospital recovering from surgery on her ankle. That poor child was completely overwhelmed with all the noise in our house. She had to stop up her ears most of the time. James really tried to be sweet to her, but that is a relative concept for him. Carlie was a great baby sitter, big sister, friend, and playmate, so maybe we won't have to change churches.
James also gave our neighbor, Ray, a demonstration of how the Buffalo acts on our friends' farm. He meant a bull, but he swore Angie had a buffalo. He put his index fingers up to his head and showed us just exactly what that buffalo did and that he would "stick you with his horns." Then, we realized this was about the bull.
I am also relieved that Jay Allen does not have a Korean bus driver so I don't worry about him making inappropriate comments in case the bus has any close calls in traffic. See my last blog if that does not make sense to you.
That is what is going on with the Benefields. I still owe you a blog from Jamestown and Busch Gardens. We had a great time there and pictures to prove it!
Carlie is an accelerated reader and is doing well in all subjects. She still enjoys art more than all others. There is no sign of her little boyfriend from last year, Mauricio, but I am sure he will make an appearance soon.
Jay Allen likes riding the bus because he doesn't have to wear a seat belt. He also said he got nervous on the first day and got the toots! I advised him how to conduct himself in case a loud one erupted - point to the kids next to him and in Dave Shasteen fashion, say, "HE DID IT!"
We are worried James will be in trouble for calling somebody a "Crack Nut" or pinching or biting somebody at school. He is doing a lot of that at home and we have been unable to deter him. Unfortunately, he already has a close personal bond with the people in the Principal's office at pre-school from all the time he spent with them last year. He is unafraid of being sent to the Principal. The office workers think he is so cute and funny and he thinks its cool that they always entertain him (even after he gets in trouble). If that reminds you all of AJ, exactly!
After this past weekend, we are ready for those kids to be in a routine. While I was in the bathroom, the boys made a "slip and slide" in my living room with a large cardboard box (and lots of water) and broke up some packing materials (that white plastic Styrofoam). So, they planned my whole morning for me, vacuuming up white Styrofoam beads and drying up the water. Cammie was not pleased when she got home. I had to ask her to leave because I was already overloaded with frustration from the boys without being reminded of everything I had done wrong in the 25 minutes (not an exaggeration) that she had been gone.
To make sure this never happened again, I sent the boys to their rooms and then threw all their toys and books and clothes on the floor in their room and made them clean it all up. James was beside himself that "Daddy tow up my wooom!" Jay Allen just matter of factly told his mother, "He tore my room up, too." I think I got the point across, but I don't recommend that technique with potty training children.
Our pastor's daughter came home with us yesterday because her little sister was in the hospital recovering from surgery on her ankle. That poor child was completely overwhelmed with all the noise in our house. She had to stop up her ears most of the time. James really tried to be sweet to her, but that is a relative concept for him. Carlie was a great baby sitter, big sister, friend, and playmate, so maybe we won't have to change churches.
James also gave our neighbor, Ray, a demonstration of how the Buffalo acts on our friends' farm. He meant a bull, but he swore Angie had a buffalo. He put his index fingers up to his head and showed us just exactly what that buffalo did and that he would "stick you with his horns." Then, we realized this was about the bull.
I am also relieved that Jay Allen does not have a Korean bus driver so I don't worry about him making inappropriate comments in case the bus has any close calls in traffic. See my last blog if that does not make sense to you.
That is what is going on with the Benefields. I still owe you a blog from Jamestown and Busch Gardens. We had a great time there and pictures to prove it!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Reckless Driving Commentary
I am still learning as a dad how important measuring every word we speak to our children can be. After getting cut off in traffic and taking notice of the driver, I made a comment to my kids about how other parts of the world drive crazily and how I had been hit in my vehicle and on my bicycle by ladies from a certain part of the world. After that close call, I went on to editorialize that you had to look out for little ladies from that part of the world because they would hit you!
Well, just days later, somebody cut Cammie off in traffic and caused her to put on the brakes abruptly. The boys were with her and when the brakes were slammed, James yelled, "Maniac!" at the crazy driver. Jay Allen said, "I bet he's Korean!"
Needless to say, I was in a little trouble for my commentary.
I can't deny the truth of my experience. I have been hit twice by Korean ladies and near missed again just the other day by another one, so cut me a little slack, but I will not be making similar observations to my children in the future.
Well, just days later, somebody cut Cammie off in traffic and caused her to put on the brakes abruptly. The boys were with her and when the brakes were slammed, James yelled, "Maniac!" at the crazy driver. Jay Allen said, "I bet he's Korean!"
Needless to say, I was in a little trouble for my commentary.
I can't deny the truth of my experience. I have been hit twice by Korean ladies and near missed again just the other day by another one, so cut me a little slack, but I will not be making similar observations to my children in the future.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Mean Women
Women working at the airports are getting meaner! The lady working at the gate I left from at St. Louis was ripping people up and turning them away. She turned away a couple of dozen from standby and then starting calling stand by passengers up to the gate. It was a bit confusing.
Before I ever got to the gate, I was summoned back to security to retrieve my ID, which fell out of my pocket during the strip search. My entire team probably heard me summoned back to security in the airport - I will find out Monday.
Then, on the airplane, the stewardess tried to make me put my Bible under my seat. I refused, it was not a bag, it was a book - the GOOD BOOK. I was willing to get kicked off the flight over this and I think she sensed that because she backed off. The very tall and big boned German lady beside cheered when this happened. I just smiled. I was glad the German lady liked me - her hands were much bigger than mine.
Things only got better when I got home and discovered one of these energy supplement companies had double billed me - violating the terms of agreement I had read. And guess what, the webpage I ordered from had been taken down. I know - it was stupid of me to order from the Internet - but it was on a reputable webpage! It used to be - I guess they took it down. When I called to explain that I would honor the agreement I had read, the guy would have none of it. I had to demand a supervisor and then she (the dreaded Melissa) hung up on me. Now, what do you think happened next?
I called back and demanded to speak with Melissa. She had conveniently stepped out to lunch. Charles "the other supervisor" helped me and was nice enough to work for such a bunch of criminals. After we agreed that I was getting all my money back, Charles asked if there was anything else he could do for me. I said, "YES! Put Melissa back on so I can hang up on her!" He told me she couldn't talk because she was at lunch and I asked what time I could call back and talk to her so I could hang up on her and he did not know. I also asked him to call me back if she got a tummy ache at lunch because that would make me happy. I also advised Charles to find a new employer because he worked for criminals. I like Charles - he laughed at Melissa with me and laughed when I called his company a bunch of criminals. He was much nicer than all the women who were mean to me today:-)
Before I ever got to the gate, I was summoned back to security to retrieve my ID, which fell out of my pocket during the strip search. My entire team probably heard me summoned back to security in the airport - I will find out Monday.
Then, on the airplane, the stewardess tried to make me put my Bible under my seat. I refused, it was not a bag, it was a book - the GOOD BOOK. I was willing to get kicked off the flight over this and I think she sensed that because she backed off. The very tall and big boned German lady beside cheered when this happened. I just smiled. I was glad the German lady liked me - her hands were much bigger than mine.
Things only got better when I got home and discovered one of these energy supplement companies had double billed me - violating the terms of agreement I had read. And guess what, the webpage I ordered from had been taken down. I know - it was stupid of me to order from the Internet - but it was on a reputable webpage! It used to be - I guess they took it down. When I called to explain that I would honor the agreement I had read, the guy would have none of it. I had to demand a supervisor and then she (the dreaded Melissa) hung up on me. Now, what do you think happened next?
I called back and demanded to speak with Melissa. She had conveniently stepped out to lunch. Charles "the other supervisor" helped me and was nice enough to work for such a bunch of criminals. After we agreed that I was getting all my money back, Charles asked if there was anything else he could do for me. I said, "YES! Put Melissa back on so I can hang up on her!" He told me she couldn't talk because she was at lunch and I asked what time I could call back and talk to her so I could hang up on her and he did not know. I also asked him to call me back if she got a tummy ache at lunch because that would make me happy. I also advised Charles to find a new employer because he worked for criminals. I like Charles - he laughed at Melissa with me and laughed when I called his company a bunch of criminals. He was much nicer than all the women who were mean to me today:-)
The Road to Chuck E. Cheese
The road to Chuck E. Cheese runs through the potty at our house. Our three year old has been a free urinator for the past few weeks and it has driven us nuts. He has peed in DVD cases, corners, Barbie cars, shoes, and anywhere he pleased, “just because I want to” according to him. Spankings were not slowing down the stream of free fire urine, possibly because his backside is already tough as leather due to the number of spankings he has required already. So, from the desperate dad playbook, I went to the wallet.
I had a conference with James and told him that I would take him to Chuck E. Cheese with his brother and sister if he could pee nowhere but the potty for one week. I briefed the siblings, so they could encourage him and I briefed Momma, so she could monitor the agreement. Well, Saturday, I am carrying the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and it has been almost two full weeks since the last free urination. I am declaring victory in this battle, but I am curious as to what the next one will be.
I had a conference with James and told him that I would take him to Chuck E. Cheese with his brother and sister if he could pee nowhere but the potty for one week. I briefed the siblings, so they could encourage him and I briefed Momma, so she could monitor the agreement. Well, Saturday, I am carrying the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and it has been almost two full weeks since the last free urination. I am declaring victory in this battle, but I am curious as to what the next one will be.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Rainbow Blog
I guess you could say the boys have been pooting around lately. Not long ago, Jay Allen busted out laughing at a commercial that advertised, "Your own private tutor!" Then, we realized, he thought that was somebody who would deliver personal flatulence.
Last week, James looked at me and said, "if you get diarrhea, you will die." I am not sure if he read the Health Care Bill or had heard of the toilet paper shortage in Cuba. I later learned that in 1909, that indeed, diarrhea was a leading killer.
Carlie and I had a World Vision Event at Sterling First Baptist Church Saturday! It was a community day and I really didn't know what that meant, but it was a good time for the kids. There were not many people who showed up looking for World Vision information, but there were a few who did stop and talk with me and take some brochures. I gave a passionate pitch about what World Vision means to our family, so the rest is between them and God. Carlie was fully prepared to share her (pretty impressive) knowledge of World Vision, but since there was almost no traffic at our World Vision display, she carried the message to the cotton candy machine, the super bounce, and the caricature artist. None of them came back by to get a brochure, but I am sure Carlie planted a seed.
Carlie and the boys played and ate cotton candy and had a big time until it rained and then we called it quits so we could take a family bowling trip. Last week, the Benefields and Roseberrys were all impressed with how well Jay Allen could bowl on the WI. This week, Jay Allen bowled a 124 with real pins and was mad that he didn't beat his dad. His dad had to bowl his best game in years to win, but Jay Allen did not care if I bowled a once in a lifetime 299, he wanted to win! James, too, was angry at each pin that didn't fall for him. It was a good family outing!
When we got home, I washed our nasty cars quickly as soon as the rain stopped. While washing, I saw the most beautiful rainbow I have seen in a while. The rainbow was double barreled and very bold and impossible to fully appreciate from a photo. God's creation is beautiful and our greatest human creations always pale in comparison. We did get a photo, but it did not do justice.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A recollection of health care
I thought I would record some of my experiences with "socialized medicine." I am going from memory and could have the exact chronology a little off, but the main point of each story is accurate even if its a little out of order.
Despite being blessed with a healthy family and good health myself, I was just thinking about some of my experiences with military medicine and insurance. From the top of my head:
Doctor refused to treat my ruptured acl in 1993 and almost ended my career before iit started - ended up with a world class surgeon and a good as new knee because I wouldn't accept their answer. The second surgeon didn't have to see me.
Had to pay for own x-rays because they were not pre-approved - I had pneumonia and bruised ribs from a training accident at a military school - I got so sick as I returned home I had to go in to be seen and tri-care's answer was to wait four days until everybody returned to work and be seen. I ended up getting most if not all of this expense refunded, but I am not sure if my gov't insurance paid or if the doctor who saw me paid it off.
Cammie was denied a referral (that she already had in hand) to an ophthalmologist when my son injured his eye despite the life, limb, or eyesight pre-approval claim. My son's eye was filled with blood and we were terrified my three year old was going to lose his eye or vision. They fought with my wife to get her to make an appointment weeks in the future with a military doctor - the military care provider agreed to see her earlier, but that was not the "board's" decision or the normal process. This happened while I was deployed.
We have to fight with the dental insurance every time the kids go - some unidentified person finds a reason not to pay for every filling and every visit despite the fact that we pay for that insurance and have full coverage. We have had to may about half of our bills out of pocket since we moved - we recovered one or two from the gov't run insurance company, but they owe us over $400 right now for fillings.
All of our success stories involve somebody going outside of the system to help us. Having close personal friends as doctors and physician's assistants is how we have received most of our care. So, I get a little fired up when people tell me how great this nationalized care is going to be. My wife and I have been looking forward to the day we can have ONE doctor and get out from under this inefficient and complex system and now its disappearing. The military system is imperfect, yet the population in the system is younger and healthier than the average population. Now, we are going to expand it to include a less healthy general population and expect it to work better. That's bull.
My wife and I decided our best health care plan is to not get sick.
Despite being blessed with a healthy family and good health myself, I was just thinking about some of my experiences with military medicine and insurance. From the top of my head:
Doctor refused to treat my ruptured acl in 1993 and almost ended my career before iit started - ended up with a world class surgeon and a good as new knee because I wouldn't accept their answer. The second surgeon didn't have to see me.
Had to pay for own x-rays because they were not pre-approved - I had pneumonia and bruised ribs from a training accident at a military school - I got so sick as I returned home I had to go in to be seen and tri-care's answer was to wait four days until everybody returned to work and be seen. I ended up getting most if not all of this expense refunded, but I am not sure if my gov't insurance paid or if the doctor who saw me paid it off.
Cammie was denied a referral (that she already had in hand) to an ophthalmologist when my son injured his eye despite the life, limb, or eyesight pre-approval claim. My son's eye was filled with blood and we were terrified my three year old was going to lose his eye or vision. They fought with my wife to get her to make an appointment weeks in the future with a military doctor - the military care provider agreed to see her earlier, but that was not the "board's" decision or the normal process. This happened while I was deployed.
We have to fight with the dental insurance every time the kids go - some unidentified person finds a reason not to pay for every filling and every visit despite the fact that we pay for that insurance and have full coverage. We have had to may about half of our bills out of pocket since we moved - we recovered one or two from the gov't run insurance company, but they owe us over $400 right now for fillings.
All of our success stories involve somebody going outside of the system to help us. Having close personal friends as doctors and physician's assistants is how we have received most of our care. So, I get a little fired up when people tell me how great this nationalized care is going to be. My wife and I have been looking forward to the day we can have ONE doctor and get out from under this inefficient and complex system and now its disappearing. The military system is imperfect, yet the population in the system is younger and healthier than the average population. Now, we are going to expand it to include a less healthy general population and expect it to work better. That's bull.
My wife and I decided our best health care plan is to not get sick.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Adventures in Running and Kettlebelling
This entry is not about the whole family, but I thought I would share my recent adventures. I am getting ready for the Army Ten Miler and am trying to increase my running mileage and kettlebell training in the process. Here are some anecdotes from my recent running.
Most of you know that I use my run as time to listen to God. I play praise music on the MP3 and reflect on my Bible Reading and prayer list for the day. This morning, I found myself getting distracted as I started to wear down and needed a motivational song to help me finish the last mile. I started trying to run through my library quickly, but realized that I was not really listening to any of the songs I was flipping through. This was denying God the opportunity to speak to me through the music. At mile five of a six mile run, feeling worn down and slow, I said a quick prayer for God to use the next song to come up to guide the rest of my day. The next song was Michael W. Smith's BREATHE. That is exactly what I did - as hard as I could:-)
I also had a close call with a cyclist on the first part of this run. I drifted towards the edge of THE RUNNING TRAIL when I heard him yell, "On your left." I apologized, patted him on the back, and quickly explained as drove by that I had been distracted by the blackberries. The cyclist showed that he understood my words by holding up his Blackberry communication device. The ding dong missed the blackberry vines with loads and loads of ripe blackberries on the left side of the RUNNING TRAIL, so I pointed those out to him. If I had told him that I eat blackberries, it would probably have confused him tremendously, as I am not sure if he knows of the kind nature makes. He probably didn't notice the purple stains on the tops of my shoes, either - those were from transporting two hands full of the eating kind of blackberries to my kids on a previous run. So, if you are distracted by a Blackberry, I hope it results in a full stomach for you.
While running last week, I scared a big Marmaduke dog's back end so badly that it jumped in front of the dog's front end and told him to turn around and look behind him. His poor owner thought she was about to door some urban skiing and Marmaduke was going to be her motor boat. It was pretty funny and I was thankful Marmaduke didn't eat me as pay back. He did, however, alert all his pals on Monroe Street to my stealthy running techniques. They all stayed safely within their fences and barked their heads off at me as I ran home. Any of you who know me know that I am not too proud to bark back - and I did! And those dogs are stone silent as I run by, now.
On my first run after returning from leave, the big giant police car voice said to me, "YOU SHOULD USE THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL." From Benefield's brain, "YOU SHOULD USE YOUR LOUD PA VOICE ON THE GUY WHO STOLE MY GPS OUT OF MY MINIVAN WHILE I WAS UNPACKING FROM VACATION, NOT ON ME WHILE I AM RUNNING." I wondered if he really believed that was the most dangerous thing I would have to do this week. Running across a road with no traffic is nothing compared to getting into DC on the Dulles tollroad. For those of you who are not familiar with this hazard, I would refer you to the story of the witch who put a curse on my #5 spark plug to show her displeasure with my (superb) driving tactics. She is probably in the same order of witches as the one who reported me to Facebook for offering to share Jesus with her (after she offered to share Wicca with anybody interested, mind you)!
So, the running is going well for the most part, but I have really been improving my kettlebell techniques. I anticipated injuring myself or at least embarrassing myself in some significant way during the workshop this past weekend, but that didn't really happen. The only downside is that I don't have much comedy to write about, but I did have a small adventure on the drive back. The Quantico gas station had a broken air compressor that I tried to use to pump up my air shocks in support of the 250lbs of kettlebells in the trunk. Instead of pumping up, the broken air compressor deflated my shocks. Blue looked like she was doing a wheelie or had a dead body in the trunk. It was embarrassing and the whole car rattled like crazy at the least bump. Luckily, I found a functional compressor within ten miles and pumped my dignity back up to normal levels.
So, now you are up to date on my PT adventures. More from the family next time.
Most of you know that I use my run as time to listen to God. I play praise music on the MP3 and reflect on my Bible Reading and prayer list for the day. This morning, I found myself getting distracted as I started to wear down and needed a motivational song to help me finish the last mile. I started trying to run through my library quickly, but realized that I was not really listening to any of the songs I was flipping through. This was denying God the opportunity to speak to me through the music. At mile five of a six mile run, feeling worn down and slow, I said a quick prayer for God to use the next song to come up to guide the rest of my day. The next song was Michael W. Smith's BREATHE. That is exactly what I did - as hard as I could:-)
I also had a close call with a cyclist on the first part of this run. I drifted towards the edge of THE RUNNING TRAIL when I heard him yell, "On your left." I apologized, patted him on the back, and quickly explained as drove by that I had been distracted by the blackberries. The cyclist showed that he understood my words by holding up his Blackberry communication device. The ding dong missed the blackberry vines with loads and loads of ripe blackberries on the left side of the RUNNING TRAIL, so I pointed those out to him. If I had told him that I eat blackberries, it would probably have confused him tremendously, as I am not sure if he knows of the kind nature makes. He probably didn't notice the purple stains on the tops of my shoes, either - those were from transporting two hands full of the eating kind of blackberries to my kids on a previous run. So, if you are distracted by a Blackberry, I hope it results in a full stomach for you.
While running last week, I scared a big Marmaduke dog's back end so badly that it jumped in front of the dog's front end and told him to turn around and look behind him. His poor owner thought she was about to door some urban skiing and Marmaduke was going to be her motor boat. It was pretty funny and I was thankful Marmaduke didn't eat me as pay back. He did, however, alert all his pals on Monroe Street to my stealthy running techniques. They all stayed safely within their fences and barked their heads off at me as I ran home. Any of you who know me know that I am not too proud to bark back - and I did! And those dogs are stone silent as I run by, now.
On my first run after returning from leave, the big giant police car voice said to me, "YOU SHOULD USE THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL." From Benefield's brain, "YOU SHOULD USE YOUR LOUD PA VOICE ON THE GUY WHO STOLE MY GPS OUT OF MY MINIVAN WHILE I WAS UNPACKING FROM VACATION, NOT ON ME WHILE I AM RUNNING." I wondered if he really believed that was the most dangerous thing I would have to do this week. Running across a road with no traffic is nothing compared to getting into DC on the Dulles tollroad. For those of you who are not familiar with this hazard, I would refer you to the story of the witch who put a curse on my #5 spark plug to show her displeasure with my (superb) driving tactics. She is probably in the same order of witches as the one who reported me to Facebook for offering to share Jesus with her (after she offered to share Wicca with anybody interested, mind you)!
So, the running is going well for the most part, but I have really been improving my kettlebell techniques. I anticipated injuring myself or at least embarrassing myself in some significant way during the workshop this past weekend, but that didn't really happen. The only downside is that I don't have much comedy to write about, but I did have a small adventure on the drive back. The Quantico gas station had a broken air compressor that I tried to use to pump up my air shocks in support of the 250lbs of kettlebells in the trunk. Instead of pumping up, the broken air compressor deflated my shocks. Blue looked like she was doing a wheelie or had a dead body in the trunk. It was embarrassing and the whole car rattled like crazy at the least bump. Luckily, I found a functional compressor within ten miles and pumped my dignity back up to normal levels.
So, now you are up to date on my PT adventures. More from the family next time.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Some Notes from Vacation
Parents, spank your children now because you can't spank them when they are adults no matter how much they need it. This observation comes from observing adults, not my children.
If Christians behaved like Alabama fans, we'd evangelize the whole world in one football season. A fellow fan ran up to me in Trader Joe's and we went over the whole plan for the next National Championship player by player and game by game. I rarely get this from fellow Christians. Of course, I have to ask if its easier to see that I love Alabama than it is to see that I love Jesus. I hope not.
If you want to know the stuff life is made of, look in your couch. We uncovered four years of popcorn, pacifiers, chex mix, hot wheels cars, go fish cards, and spare change as we rearranged the other day. The couch rattled like a toy chest when we moved it and we had to almost completely disassemble it, but there was quite the treasure hidden inside. I also learned that a staple can enter the meaty part of your palm (around your thumb) and go almost to your elbow before you realize that it is in there. I felt like I was doing a magic trick as I pulled it out and had to pull hand over hand for several minutes before it was free. Cammie showed her standard display of compassion for my injuries and laughed her rear end off.
I should also point out that I had to pull over twice on the drive back from vacation to whip and threaten my children into good behavior. They were so much better on the way to vacation, minus one accidental assault on their dad. I guess using, "I'll turn this van around and go home," as a threat on the way to Alabama was a bad call because I had nothing to threaten them with on the way back. By this point, they know I won't really choke them out (with their mother watching), so the little people have the upper hand. On the way to Alabama, the only significant event was when Carlie and Jay Allen were playing with his Taekwondo belt and let loose of it in a manner that caused it to snap like a leather whip right on my neck - while I was driving! I used all my best threats, but Cammie didn't help much because she was holding her ears and laughing.
Other notes, we learned that James will ask adults to leave the room before he misbehaves. That really helps in monitoring his behavior. If you refuse to leave the room, he will ask you to close your eyes.
The Lazy Donkey is still the best Mexican restaurant in the world!
I left my Tar Heel hat and my NRA hat somewhere on our vacation - not sure where.
Somebody stole my GPS, cellphone, and shades - and possibly Jay Allen's Leapster out of our van while we were unpacking.
My computer had crashed while we were gone, which is strange because we left it turned off the whole time.
I already rendered a report on Carlie's Baptism - it was great and so was the entire vacation, but we were away from home a long time and there's no place like home.
Hope you all have a great summer and enjoyed my potpourri of vacation notes!
If Christians behaved like Alabama fans, we'd evangelize the whole world in one football season. A fellow fan ran up to me in Trader Joe's and we went over the whole plan for the next National Championship player by player and game by game. I rarely get this from fellow Christians. Of course, I have to ask if its easier to see that I love Alabama than it is to see that I love Jesus. I hope not.
If you want to know the stuff life is made of, look in your couch. We uncovered four years of popcorn, pacifiers, chex mix, hot wheels cars, go fish cards, and spare change as we rearranged the other day. The couch rattled like a toy chest when we moved it and we had to almost completely disassemble it, but there was quite the treasure hidden inside. I also learned that a staple can enter the meaty part of your palm (around your thumb) and go almost to your elbow before you realize that it is in there. I felt like I was doing a magic trick as I pulled it out and had to pull hand over hand for several minutes before it was free. Cammie showed her standard display of compassion for my injuries and laughed her rear end off.
I should also point out that I had to pull over twice on the drive back from vacation to whip and threaten my children into good behavior. They were so much better on the way to vacation, minus one accidental assault on their dad. I guess using, "I'll turn this van around and go home," as a threat on the way to Alabama was a bad call because I had nothing to threaten them with on the way back. By this point, they know I won't really choke them out (with their mother watching), so the little people have the upper hand. On the way to Alabama, the only significant event was when Carlie and Jay Allen were playing with his Taekwondo belt and let loose of it in a manner that caused it to snap like a leather whip right on my neck - while I was driving! I used all my best threats, but Cammie didn't help much because she was holding her ears and laughing.
Other notes, we learned that James will ask adults to leave the room before he misbehaves. That really helps in monitoring his behavior. If you refuse to leave the room, he will ask you to close your eyes.
The Lazy Donkey is still the best Mexican restaurant in the world!
I left my Tar Heel hat and my NRA hat somewhere on our vacation - not sure where.
Somebody stole my GPS, cellphone, and shades - and possibly Jay Allen's Leapster out of our van while we were unpacking.
My computer had crashed while we were gone, which is strange because we left it turned off the whole time.
I already rendered a report on Carlie's Baptism - it was great and so was the entire vacation, but we were away from home a long time and there's no place like home.
Hope you all have a great summer and enjoyed my potpourri of vacation notes!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The Benefield Camping Expedition
I promised my boys a camping trip while we were on leave, so AJ and his kids were able to join us. It is the only time I remember having beans, wieners, and Yoo-hoos for dinner, so you know it was a good time.
Originally, the blueprint for this trip was for all the boys to go camping, build a fire, eat beans, and toot. AJ decided to bring the girls, so that civilized the whole expedition just a little bit, but it was still an adventure. With all of our children, the adult to child ratio was 2-5. When both adults are dads, that ratio is perilously close to disaster, but we did survive.
I made the kids some fishing poles out of bamboo cane, thinking that would be safer since no casting was required. It only took about five minutes for Carlie to hook Jay Allen in the shoulder, so that theory was not as solid as I thought. I had to take a tactical pause and give the entire camping party a safety brief on the use of the cane poles. Happily, nobody else was hooked during the trip, not even a fish.
The next near disaster involved Jay Allen dropping the tailgate on Carlie. I know many of you are thinking, "PAYBACK", but it was clear that he did not mean to hurt his sister and was more scared than she was about the injury. By Benefield family standards, it was a minor injury - no blood, no broken bones, no emergency room necessary. It paled in comparison to James taking a header off the Braggs's top floor and breaking their steps.
After a feast of beans and franks and Yoo-hoos, I convinced all of the children to fish with me. This lasted for a few minutes and then the big kids wanted to go roast marshmallows. James had no interest in marshmallows and kept on fishing for a good while. When he finally returned to the fire, he realized his mother was not there and wanted to go home. So, we took him home and camped on with the big kids.
The kids all settled down and slept quietly that night, though Jay Allen and I regretted that we left the tarp that my dad laid out for us. We slept under an Army poncho liner and it left us just a little chilly when we woke up. AJ had faithfully kept the fire going through the night, though I suspect that had a lot to do with the fact that his dog, Hoss, kept licking his feet when he tried to sleep.
My kids woke up wanting to fish and go paddle boating, so that is what we did, in that order. The paddle boat worked pretty well, and we even docked for blackberry picking on the far side of the pond. Yoo-hoos and blackberries for breakfast are number one!
Well, two minor injuries and two of three kids making it all night is a success for a first camping trip. AJ left just before we did, but technically, I think his camping trip lasted longer, at least for Aaron. When we both got back to my parents' house, Aaron was still asleep on AJ's truck. I don't know when Aaron finally woke up, but I did see him a couple of days later
Trip to the Rick and Bubba Show Visit
AJ and I decided to spend our birthday together as part of the live studio audience at the Rick and Bubba Show. Not nearly as eventful as some of our adventures, it was nevertheless a great time. Cammie and Jennifer joined us for a great time together with our good friends who barely know us.
The most disappointing part of our visit was the fact that Rick Burgess was not present. He had surgery on his torn bicep the day before we visited and was too medicated to broadcast. Rick tore his bicep throwing a brick over a tree limb to hang a tire swing. That is an unusual injury and its a little surprising that a former athlete such as Rick would hurt himself by simply throwing a brick. I don't know exactly what to think of that, but I do know he wouldn't have torn his bicep in 1982. I just hope he can still throw a football over that mountain!
When we first arrived at the Rick and Bubba studio, we had to sign a waiver giving up all claims to the Peanut Butter Banana Cake we brought with us and promising not to yell out anything during the live broadcast that would incur an FCC fine. One of the intern€s, Aubie, brought us some slices of Mrs. Bragg's famous peanut butter banana cake in spite of the fact that we had already signed it away. Luckily, we did not have to sign away the rights to the cake's recipe or Mrs. Bragg would have strung us up by our toes.
For those of you not familiar with Rick and Bubba, you should know that they are not celebrities, but are regular folks who get to meet celebrities on behalf of those of us too busy. Their show could take place in your living room because it is simply a bunch of friends who sit around joking with each other, talking about the news, and telling stories from their lives. Rick and Bubba just happen to have hundreds of thousands of friends (fans) who listen in and participate in their daily visits. All the show members are authentic and genuinely nice people. Even though he was obviously tired from visiting with Rick and watching the College World Series, Bubba spent a lot of time during the off-air breaks visiting with the studio audience. He is just a nice guy (unless you show him your pet snake). The entire cast invited us in to watch them do their job (the show) and made us feel at home and included in the process. I am not nearly so nice at work and would have security remove anybody who showed up just to watch me do my job, so I appreciate their hospitality.
Even without Rick, the 23 June show was very funny and we spent the whole morning laughing. Even the parts of the show that weren't planned to be funny had their moments, like the guest who kept calling Bubba "Rick". Speedy finally had to write Bubba's name on an impromptu flash card and hold it up for the guest to get him re-oriented. We also saw first hand how the guys pick at each other when Speed Racer welcomed Randy Savage (the Macho Man wrestler) to the studio audience. Obviously, Randy Savage was not there and though I thought for a moment Speedy had mistaken me for this celebrity, it was actually just a well played joke by the rest of the staff.
Of all the members of the Rick and Bubba show, I think I identify most closely with Greg Burgess. Greg speaks his mind without apology and often with a bit too much candor. You more often think, "I can't believe he said that", than "I wonder what Greg means." I can identify with that. One of Greg's sayings is displayed prominently in my office, "Know your role and shut your hole." There are more offices that need those words displayed, but for now, we'll have to settle for my office. I am concerned that we may have inadvertently contributed to the softening of the hard-working, pole-climbing, blue collar Greg Burgess by bringing that Peanut Butter Banana Cake. I know its common practice to bring food to Rick and Bubba, but I am afraid Mrs. Bragg's famous cake may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Greg. In the last half of the show, it was announced that Greg will undergo liposuction. I have a strong suspicion that the lipo-sucker tank is going to be filled with bananas and peanut butter icing.
Many of my friends who knew I was going to see the show had an expectation that I would end up on the radio. I would have been comfortable with that except that the past few members of my profession who sat in the audience have gotten themselves in a little trouble by getting on the radio. So, it was my goal to be member of the audience and not an on air guest and I left "mission accomplished". I strongly recommend a visit and if your goal is to laugh, then I suspect you are going to leave "mission accomplished", too.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Independence Day
Our Declaration of Independence was a God-inspired document that unleashed the greatest force for freedom our world has ever known. Our founders, in their great wisdom, protected that freedom by codifying our liberties and freedom in the Constitution. Each generation chooses whether to honor those efforts by valuing the liberties in the Constitution enough to preserve them.
Every military member takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Every military member knows that oath will require sacrifice, possibly even the ultimate sacrifice, yet it seems well worth it to protect for our fellow citizens the liberties that the Constitution guarantees. Historically, the American soldier has protected the liberties of his fellow citizens and also secured liberty for the citizens of numerous other countries. That list of other countries is still growing.
I have served with soldiers for almost twenty years and it is very humbling to have people thank me for my service. The most humbling thank you occurred in Bangor, Maine after my first deployment to the Middle East. As I entered the terminal in Bangor with other returning service members, there was a party of veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam standing alongside other Bangor residents to greet us upon our return. Not one of us returning in that particular flight had made the kind of sacrifices those veterans of previous generations had made, but they did not care. They valued their liberty and our efforts to preserve and spread it. We received the kind of welcome that an American President or the hottest rock star of the day would envy. Those folks provided food, drink, cell phones, and all kinds of support for us on the last leg of our journey home. We were all completely overwhelmed (see God Bless Bangor, Maine). What an inspiring way to exercise this country’s freedoms!
Over the course of my deployments to the Middle East, I have seen and heard of many acts of courage. I believe the American public is hungry to hear these stories, but most never get told. The stories that do get into the media do not get the level of coverage that Michael Jackson’s death or Britney Spears habitual lack of underwear seem to generate. I believe there should be a cable channel dedicated to telling the stories of heroes like the channel dedicated to telling the latest on entertainers (E!). Maybe, we call it “F”, the Freedom channel, telling the story of men and women like the Georgia National Guardsman who led his convoy successfully through an IED attack while his appendix ruptured. He didn’t get a medal (as far as I know), just a MEDEVAC. I heard his story while he was recovering in the hospital and after we exchanged call signs, discovered that I had talked with him on the radio that night. I remembered every detail of that night, but I never knew that he was bent over double in pain during the ambush. The guy was a pro and did his job under the worst of conditions. He gave no indications of the pain he was in to me or his men. I would say he demonstrated courage that Michael and Britney never experienced first hand. There are countless other stories I can share in person if you have the time: my buddy who escaped the hospital while recovering from injuries so he could return to his unit (this happened in 2004, not 1944); the soldier who defeated cancer twice, even when he had to shop around to find a doctor as determined as he was to win those victories; the “Missing Parts in Action” soldiers who run the Army Ten Miler each year to declare victory over the handicaps they acquired in service of their country – if you want a motivating experience, try to feel sorry for yourself as a soldier with an artificial leg is in front of you on the Army Ten Miler course.
The American soldier not only demonstrates courage, but also inspires it. I had the honor of meeting a number of brave Iraqis who were risking their lives and the lives of the family to rebuild their country. Before security broke out in Iraq, many leaders had to sleep in their offices because it was too dangerous to return home each day. Most Iraqi leaders have been targeted if not attacked by the enemies of freedom, but continue to march on with a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Furthermore, insurgents and foreign fighters targeted every Iraqi, not just leaders, during the previous few rounds of elections, but voters still turned out in overwhelming numbers. I have no doubts that the Iraqis will persevere until they achieve peace and prosperity. I treasure meeting such brave men and have as my most prized possession from my last deployment, a picture taken with one such Iraqi leader.
The greatness of every country depends on the citizens exercising their responsibilities. Prisoners don’t have many responsibilities, but free men do. What a shame for free men to act like prisoners and not live up to their responsibilities. Despite what the Stoics might believe, indifference is not a virtue. As long as the American soldier pledges his life to protect the liberties in the Constitution for his fellow Americans, I believe Americans have an obligation to value the Constitution and exercise their liberties. If citizens do not keep themselves informed and involved, then they will no longer have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, but they will have government on the people. If you are not sure what that means, ask an Iraqi, they remember.
Every person who works for the U.S. government works for the American people. There is no better employer, but I would like to remind the American people not to be afraid to fire any government employees who are not doing a good job. The American people deserve the best from their government, but everybody has to do their part to hold the government accountable. An informed people will preserve liberty where an uninformed people will lose their liberty. Some of you could do a better job than many of the current members of government and should hire yourselves on as soon as possible. The interviews are called elections and they occur in pretty predictable intervals. It takes a little courage to live up to your responsibilities as citizens, but courage is still dominant in the American DNA.
Despite some people’s lack of understanding of the concept, American exceptionalism is alive and well, but it is very much an individual pursuit. God designed each of us for a specific purpose and has a specific will for our lives. Americans became an exceptional people collectively because they recognized God’s purpose for them as individuals and had the freedom to achieve that purpose. We will only lose our exceptionalism if we lose touch with God’s purpose for us.
Nothing motivates me more than to see people who are chasing their God-inspired dreams. I know dozens of people who have traded job security for the pursuit of happiness. To list a few:
* the Army Captain who left the service to become a priest
* the Army Captain who is now a successful high school football coach
* the Army Captain who left the service for the higher calling of
being a mother
* the Air Force Captain who left the military service to serve
others through a career in medicine
* my high school friend who owns his own music business and is
passionate about his work
* the other high school friend who is cutting a gospel album filled
with songs he wrote himself (I got a preview of the album and love
every song)
* the friend from junior high school who left a successful career to
become a writer
This is what makes our country great generation after generation and is what I celebrate each Fourth of July. I believe these people are doing what God intended them to do and it is inspiring. I am paying attention because I need to decide what I am going to do when I grow up in three or four years. Because I live in the greatest country on earth, I still have the freedom to do anything God leads me to. Because I value my freedom, I have the responsibility to do what God designed me to do. Because I know so many who have shown the courage to achieve God’s purpose in their lives, I have the courage to as well. Do you?
Have a great Independence Day this Fourth of July and every day thereafter!
Every military member takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Every military member knows that oath will require sacrifice, possibly even the ultimate sacrifice, yet it seems well worth it to protect for our fellow citizens the liberties that the Constitution guarantees. Historically, the American soldier has protected the liberties of his fellow citizens and also secured liberty for the citizens of numerous other countries. That list of other countries is still growing.
I have served with soldiers for almost twenty years and it is very humbling to have people thank me for my service. The most humbling thank you occurred in Bangor, Maine after my first deployment to the Middle East. As I entered the terminal in Bangor with other returning service members, there was a party of veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam standing alongside other Bangor residents to greet us upon our return. Not one of us returning in that particular flight had made the kind of sacrifices those veterans of previous generations had made, but they did not care. They valued their liberty and our efforts to preserve and spread it. We received the kind of welcome that an American President or the hottest rock star of the day would envy. Those folks provided food, drink, cell phones, and all kinds of support for us on the last leg of our journey home. We were all completely overwhelmed (see God Bless Bangor, Maine
Over the course of my deployments to the Middle East, I have seen and heard of many acts of courage. I believe the American public is hungry to hear these stories, but most never get told. The stories that do get into the media do not get the level of coverage that Michael Jackson’s death or Britney Spears habitual lack of underwear seem to generate. I believe there should be a cable channel dedicated to telling the stories of heroes like the channel dedicated to telling the latest on entertainers (E!). Maybe, we call it “F”, the Freedom channel, telling the story of men and women like the Georgia National Guardsman who led his convoy successfully through an IED attack while his appendix ruptured. He didn’t get a medal (as far as I know), just a MEDEVAC. I heard his story while he was recovering in the hospital and after we exchanged call signs, discovered that I had talked with him on the radio that night. I remembered every detail of that night, but I never knew that he was bent over double in pain during the ambush. The guy was a pro and did his job under the worst of conditions. He gave no indications of the pain he was in to me or his men. I would say he demonstrated courage that Michael and Britney never experienced first hand. There are countless other stories I can share in person if you have the time: my buddy who escaped the hospital while recovering from injuries so he could return to his unit (this happened in 2004, not 1944); the soldier who defeated cancer twice, even when he had to shop around to find a doctor as determined as he was to win those victories; the “Missing Parts in Action” soldiers who run the Army Ten Miler each year to declare victory over the handicaps they acquired in service of their country – if you want a motivating experience, try to feel sorry for yourself as a soldier with an artificial leg is in front of you on the Army Ten Miler course.
The American soldier not only demonstrates courage, but also inspires it. I had the honor of meeting a number of brave Iraqis who were risking their lives and the lives of the family to rebuild their country. Before security broke out in Iraq, many leaders had to sleep in their offices because it was too dangerous to return home each day. Most Iraqi leaders have been targeted if not attacked by the enemies of freedom, but continue to march on with a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Furthermore, insurgents and foreign fighters targeted every Iraqi, not just leaders, during the previous few rounds of elections, but voters still turned out in overwhelming numbers. I have no doubts that the Iraqis will persevere until they achieve peace and prosperity. I treasure meeting such brave men and have as my most prized possession from my last deployment, a picture taken with one such Iraqi leader.
The greatness of every country depends on the citizens exercising their responsibilities. Prisoners don’t have many responsibilities, but free men do. What a shame for free men to act like prisoners and not live up to their responsibilities. Despite what the Stoics might believe, indifference is not a virtue. As long as the American soldier pledges his life to protect the liberties in the Constitution for his fellow Americans, I believe Americans have an obligation to value the Constitution and exercise their liberties. If citizens do not keep themselves informed and involved, then they will no longer have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, but they will have government on the people. If you are not sure what that means, ask an Iraqi, they remember.
Every person who works for the U.S. government works for the American people. There is no better employer, but I would like to remind the American people not to be afraid to fire any government employees who are not doing a good job. The American people deserve the best from their government, but everybody has to do their part to hold the government accountable. An informed people will preserve liberty where an uninformed people will lose their liberty. Some of you could do a better job than many of the current members of government and should hire yourselves on as soon as possible. The interviews are called elections and they occur in pretty predictable intervals. It takes a little courage to live up to your responsibilities as citizens, but courage is still dominant in the American DNA.
Despite some people’s lack of understanding of the concept, American exceptionalism is alive and well, but it is very much an individual pursuit. God designed each of us for a specific purpose and has a specific will for our lives. Americans became an exceptional people collectively because they recognized God’s purpose for them as individuals and had the freedom to achieve that purpose. We will only lose our exceptionalism if we lose touch with God’s purpose for us.
Nothing motivates me more than to see people who are chasing their God-inspired dreams. I know dozens of people who have traded job security for the pursuit of happiness. To list a few:
* the Army Captain who left the service to become a priest
* the Army Captain who is now a successful high school football coach
* the Army Captain who left the service for the higher calling of
being a mother
* the Air Force Captain who left the military service to serve
others through a career in medicine
* my high school friend who owns his own music business and is
passionate about his work
* the other high school friend who is cutting a gospel album filled
with songs he wrote himself (I got a preview of the album and love
every song)
* the friend from junior high school who left a successful career to
become a writer
This is what makes our country great generation after generation and is what I celebrate each Fourth of July. I believe these people are doing what God intended them to do and it is inspiring. I am paying attention because I need to decide what I am going to do when I grow up in three or four years. Because I live in the greatest country on earth, I still have the freedom to do anything God leads me to. Because I value my freedom, I have the responsibility to do what God designed me to do. Because I know so many who have shown the courage to achieve God’s purpose in their lives, I have the courage to as well. Do you?
Have a great Independence Day this Fourth of July and every day thereafter!
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