L.O.L. as a resolution.

        I was watching television the other day and caught myself doing something that I don't do nearly enough, laughing out loud, it was nothing more than a small chuckle, but at the end of an especially trying workday I found that this simple involuntary action was a much needed relief, and made the rest of my day easier to deal with. I try not to, but all too often, I use my current environment as an excuse to have a poor attitude, and although I would like to say that it is because I am away from my family. I can't really admit that is the reason, because I know that I would be the same way if I was at home. You see, I am an all too serious person and I know that the rigors of everyday life, either at home or abroad, get to me and affect my personality.  I am sure that everyone is aware of the "laughter is the best medicine" saying, and in fact there have been numerous studies made on behalf of this. Laughing out loud has been proven to improve the circulation of blood flow which can boost the cardiovascular system and help protect against heart attack. Laughing also increases immune cells and infection fighting antibodies, which in turn makes you more resistant to diseases. But for me, these reasons aren't enough. What I noticed that day, was that not only did I feel better, but I liked myself more. I discovered that when I am in a good mood, I like hanging out with me, and I believe that this is a pivotal step in becoming the person I want to be.
      
        I don't like the idea of making a "New Year's Resolution" because I think that if a change needs to be made, it needs to be implemented immediately. I also don't like the idea, that the quality of an entire year is a direct reflection of whether or not I have enough follow through to: go to the gym twice a week, or spend more time with my family, or whatever I may have told myself would make me a better person. I know that change, especially within ourselves, is a long, and sometimes painful, process. So I like to start it as soon as possible, understanding that I will, more than likely, falter along the way. So, after considering all this, I realized that I would have to make a decision, not just a resolution. As much as I wish I could just become more positive, it is much more difficult than I imagined, but I am trying. I have learned a few tricks to hopefully get me off on the right foot:

1.  Try and laugh at rough situations rather than let them negatively affect you. As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces I often get tasked with jobs that are less than ideal, often at the last minute. (one of which is keeping me up as I write this)

2. Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Some may say that I have a sick sense of humor, but I have a small poster near my work area that whenever I look at it, it makes me laugh. It says, "When work feels overwhelming, remember that you're going to die."

3. Laugh at yourself. This I feel is quite possibly the most important, don't let the way that other people perceive you effect the way that you feel about yourself. After all, you cant take life too serious, or you'll never make it out alive.

Thanks for reading.
-Phillip

tis the season

        In case you don't know, Christmas is officially upon us. To me, Christmas means enjoying the company of the ones that you love, and since I am deployed this year and apart from my family, I got to thinking about some of the characters of the season. Who then came to mind, but jolly old Saint Nick. I found it interesting that, I really have no idea the history of probably the biggest and most influential character in this time. So I did some searching, and not only did I find out the story of the actual Saint Nicholas, but I learned that I actually like him much more. For me, I like the idea of a man that does good and stands up for what he believes in, a man whose morals don't falter in the face of adversity, and this is the type of man that I found in Saint Nicholas. 

        The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara (found in modern day Turkey). His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his inheritance to give to those in need. He dedicated his life to serving God and at 30 years old, he was made Bishop of Myra. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, he was exiled and imprisoned. He spent ten years in jail and was released only after Constantine conquered the east and ended the persecution of Christians. Around this time, Arianism was on the rise, fathered by Bishop Arius,  Nicholas so strongly opposed Arianism that at the Council of Nicaea where he attended, he was reported with physically accosting Bishop Arius. 
        Throughout his life, Bishop Nicholas was known for offering gifts and candy to children who memorized scriptures. At this point, because of his reputation for kindness to children and the stories that surrounded him, rumors began to circulate about Nicholas. One such rumor tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.

       Saint Nicholas died December 6, 343AD and he was so loved that the day of his death became a day of celebration. During those days, animals would be slaughtered at the end of autumn so that the meat would be preserved throughout winter, which also coincided with the harvest. So to honor the memory of Saint Nicholas people would gather to celebrate his memory and feast together.

        This is what I would call the start of the legacy of Santa. There are many documented contributors to the image of the Saint Nick that we know of today and his image has changed quite a bit, but what hasn't changed is what he stood for, his ideals. I grew up with a Santa that works one day a year, lives in a remote place, is liked by everyone, and doesn't stand for anything. I like a Santa that stands up for what he believes in, even to the point spending a decade in prison for it. I like a Santa that gets into fights for what he believes is right. I like a Saint Nicholas that is a doer, a man that gets things done. I like a Santa that has his feet on the ground, rather than a sleigh in the sky.    

Thanks for Reading.
Phillip

*There were a few text links in this weeks story and I encourage you to check them out.

     

Washing your feet

        All throughout the Bible, God talks about the washing of feet. Starting in Genesis 18:4 with "Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree" all the way to 1 Timothy 9-10 where it says "No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds." The washing of feet during this time was a huge act of respect. So much so, that in 1 Timothy we see that it is held up with the same respect as "bringing up children". How can that be, I know it is important and that it is an act of humility, but really, is it that big of a deal? I think it is and here is why:

We will use one of the most famous stories on the subject as an example:

John 13:1-12

Jesus washes his disciples feet.

        It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

        Now Jesus,  who at this time was an acknowledged prophet, humbled himself and did the work of a servant, anointing the feet of his followers. Although I have never been to Isreal or Judea, I have been to the desert of the middle east and let me tell you something; it is hot. I never went a day without sweating, my feet most especially. There is dirt everywhere, picture a field covered in light fluffy snow and now imagine that snow is dirt and sand. Commonly referred to as "moondust" this dirt gets into everything. For me, it was my eyes, mouth, fingertips, nose, boots, because even though I wore boots this "moondust" made it into them, and if I wanted to keep my feet healthy I would have to clean them with baby wipes every night and put lotion on them because they would dry out so bad they would start cracking, and that was with boots on. There was also the garbage, where I was there is certainly no public works department and trash collectors, so the garbage was scattered anywhere and everywhere. On top of all this, there was also no sewage system, so as you can imagine, there were a few times that I found myself searching someones bathroom, but not knowing it until it was too late. I traveled around in boots and I am happy for that. In the days of Jesus, the wealthy had sandals, but most of the general population most likely spent their everyday lives barefoot, having to work and live with their feet in this environment. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of why it was such a big deal to have your feet washed or indeed do the washing. I believe this was an incredibly humbling experience, to wash someones feet. Jesus knew the importance and representation of what he was doing and at the end of the passage, Jesus asks his disciples "Do you understand what I have done for you?" I believe that with his actions, Jesus was saying, As I have just made myself the lowest among you and washed all the dirt, garbage, and stench from your feet, I will indeed go ahead of you and wash you of all your sin. As we know, Jesus taught in parables and metaphors and I think this scenario was no different. In this way, he used the tangible (dirt and mud) as an example for the intangible (sin).

The Suicide Catcher

        In a city that boasts over 5.5 million people, Nanjing, China is home to a man that consistently risks his life for strangers. In a country that is among the top in the world for reported suicides a very good majority occur from a four mile long bridge that spans the Yangtze River. Mr. Chen is a humble man that stands watch from the south post of this bridge, keeping a watchful eye for weary souls ready to end their existence. He has made it his duty, to get to them before they can make the last decision of their lives. Mr. Chen is in no way a law enforcement professional, he does not work for any sort of institution, or department, or active group that supports suicide prevention. He is just Mr. Chen. He is just a man. but, if actions do indeed speak louder than words, his actions scream hero. 174 is the last reported number of people that he has been accredited with saving, although I am sure that there are more than that. Mr. Chen notes that there are very different ways that he approaches people. Some he has to be very hostile with, while others it takes convincing. Regardless, of the way they are saved there is a dedicated few that meet every year around Christmas to celebrate their new lives, and as a part of the celebration, the rescued calculate there new ages from the date of their salvation. No one is older than six. Mr. Chen is a silent hero, a self proclaimed Suicide Catcher.

        There is an endless amount of things that we could learn from this "suicide catcher", but what I gleaned from the story was that Mr. Chen is just a regular guy. He is not, nor does he consider himself to be extraordinary in any way. So what then separates Mr. Chen from others, what makes him different from me? I think that there is a very simple answer to that question. Mr. Chen holds human life at the utmost importance. I think (and you will here this a lot from me) that the key to a happy and a successful life is believing in something greater than yourself. Whether that is religion, or patriotism, or culture, tradition, or saving strangers from themselves, it doesn't matter. Believing in something outside ourselves changes our actions and the way that we approach life and the world around us. It is said that it is better to give than to receive, I believe that it is better to give of yourself. There is no reward like the one that is received when you make the right choice, and dedicating yourself to that proposition. One of the biggest problems that I see today is that the majority of people doing good are looking to be recognized for it. People like Mr. Chen are all over the world, unsung heroes of the everyday. Not asking for what they think that they deserve. Only doing what is right, because they know that it is right. I hate to say this, but because of all the horrible news, and the stories I hear because of what I do, too often I lose faith in humanity and I feel like, if I could, I would flood the world too. But every so often, not nearly enough, I am reminded that there are people out there like Mr. Chen who stand watch day after day ready to pull us back as soon as we go astray. This reminder makes me proud, proud to know that all though I might get paid by the government, I work for the people, and among those people, there are quiet heroes, and should I ever go astray I believe that there will be someone there to pull me back.

Excitement and the Future

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to do something worthwhile. I went to an elementary school and was able to help give a class to about 300 kindergarten and first graders on the importance of dental hygiene. We had a local dentist come and talk to them and towards the end we handed out toothbrush's and toothpaste. All of that was great, but what impacted me the most was there level of excitement. As you can tell from the picture above, we were mobbed. The kids swarmed us so much there was a moment or two I was a little afraid it might get out of control. I have never seen anyone so happy to see total strangers, much less Americans, much less military. Because of my past experience, I don't expect to be welcomed warmly into any situation. In Afghanistan, my experience was that people weren't so much happy to see you as much as they tolerated you being there, like a necessary evil. The kids in Afghanistan were nice enough, but you were never confident that they wouldn't pull out an AK-47 and start shooting. I was so impressed by the children at this elementary school because for the three plus hours that I was there, I didn't get asked for anything. They kept coming up and thanking me for being there. Not for anything in particular, not the toothbrush or the toothpaste, just showing up. "Thank you sir" and holding my hand to their forehead. (Which I learned later is a sign of gratitude) This experience got me thinking, these kids are the next generation, these are the decision makers of the future. These kids are going to be the adults that form peace treaties and wage wars. They are happy to see us now, but what happens if that changes? If we nurture the relationships that we have with the youth, then when they grow up the won't harbor hatred for us. This is a simple enough thing to say, and it applies directly here when I am dealing with counter-insurgency and terrorism, but how often in your own life have you disregarded the concerns or questions of your own children? I know that I am as guilty as anyone. It is all too easy to get caught up in our everyday life and neglect their concerns. Deeming them unimportant. We all want our sons and daughters to grow and be successful, but do we treat them like we expect that. If you knew your child was going to grow up and be the President of the United States, would you raise him differently? I know I would and I plan to start. Now by no means am I saying that raising kids is easy, it is not. What I am saying is that we, as parents, should be willing to put in the work to properly raise our children, while understanding that sometimes all they want from us, is to just show up.

Selflessness

     As some of you know, I am currently deployed, and because of this I have received a few packages in the mail from American citizens who would like to support the troops. Each package that I receive is amazing I appreciate everything that they send me and everything that I get, I share with my other troops. The act of making the effort to go out of your way and send items to those service members that are deployed to a combat zone is, in my opinion, nothing short of amazing and in its own regard a terrific act of selflessness. However, I would like to highlight a particular instance. I got a package a few weeks ago and I looked at the address and saw that it was from somebody that I had never met. I opened it and saw that it was three individually wrapped bags of candy. I want to make it clear that it was a lot of candy, this box was stuffed. Also enclosed was a letter from the sender, it said this; "Hello, My name is Jessica I am 11 and my brothers Matthew and Mason and I wanted to send our halloween candy  to you because we know that you probably don't have any. Thank you for fighting for our country, and we hope you make it back safe to see your family." In case, you didn't catch it, this young girl went trick or treating and sent me her halloween candy and the candy of her little brothers as well (judging by the picture that they included Matthew looked about 8 and Mason looked about 4). Now it is hard for me to believe that this idea was entirely her own, but I imagine it might have been sparked by her parents. But, regardless I think that what Jessica, Matthew and Mason did was amazingly selfless. I would never have dreamed that I would receive anything like this, I was a kid and I have a six year old son, I know how much candy means to a kid and how much they look forward to trick-or-treating. I would never ask my son or daughter to give up their spoils to someone halfway across the world, whom they have never and would probably never meet. I don't know how to describe what I felt when I read the letter and saw the picture, except to say that I was grateful. I was grateful, not so much for the candy, (although it was delicious) but more for the thought and the people behind it. They say that actions speak louder than words and in this situation they were screaming at me reminding me that there are people left in this country that would give up what is important to them, to give to those that go without. People that have never been deployed in a combat situation could never fully understand what we go through, but I was grateful to be reminded that although at times I may lose faith in the country that I fight for, there are still people worth fighting for.