Norris the Chaplain

Norris Burkes is an Air Force Chaplain and free-lance writer. He pens a spiritual column that is carried by our local newspaper and I admit I'm on his email list. I receive a copy of his column before it printed in the paper and I get occassional emails about his other activities. I enjoy reading his column because he readily admits his failings and his failures to be the person that God wants him to be. He seems very real to me....not one of those writers who presents as perfect and perfectly in touch with God. I was touched by his latest column and wanted to pass it on to those of you who read my blog:

This month I met a chaplain who refused to pray for an Air Force general. If
that shocks you, I think I should add I greatly respect him for it.

I suspect some of you are saying what my mom used to say, "You'd better explain
yourself PDQ."

It happened, or perhaps I should say it didn't happen, in Leesburg, Va., last
week where I attended a conference for Air National Guard senior chaplains and
chaplain assistants. It had been a good week, but by week's end, most of us had
one hand on our luggage and one foot pointing toward the door.

Suddenly from the back of the room, someone called the room to attention, "Ten
hut!" and a man walked in who had most of us seeing stars -- three of them in
fact, all on his collar.

The man was Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, and he is the director of the Air
National Guard. This is a rank so high it makes me want to type this column from
a standing position.

However, during the next 30 minutes, McKinley demonstrated spiritual warmth that
nearly made us forget about his rank. He solicited our ideas and made good notes of our remarks. For all of
this, he received a sincere standing ovation from us.

At the conclusion of his speech, our senior chaplain voiced a prayer request. He
asked us that if we would commit to daily prayer for the general, we should
remain standing. If not, we could take our seats. No doubt, this was a
well-intentioned request, but it gave me some pause.

On the one hand, given the scriptural admonition to pray for those appointed
over me, prayer was certainly an appropriate strategy. But on the other hand,
doesn't honesty demand I admit this glib request wasn't likely to be met with
any kind of regularity?

After all, my regular prayers are reserved for people I know best, and in that
category, my grandson outranks them all.

I felt my knees flex as they challenged my integrity. Would I, could I sit?

Well, if you follow this column because you think me a spiritual hero, you've
not read enough of my columns. Nothing doing. I stood with the herd.

Everyone stood. Everyone, that is, but Chaplain Stan Giles. Stan had decisively
taken a seat.

Upon hearing the request, he had commenced an integrity check. He knew what we
all know about our prayer habits.

He knew most of us find it easier to ascent to casual requests for prayer than
to take prayer seriously. We promise our prayers to people as casually as we say
"bless you" with a sneeze or "have a great day" with a gas station purchase.

From his chair, Stan seemed to be reflecting on his prayer commitments, and he
knew he had neither the time nor the stamina to regularly pray for someone he
didn't know. His prayer list was full.

Truthfully, I admire Stan for his nonstanding stance. And I suspect the general
would admire him, too. Because at the end of the day, the people I want praying
for me are the people who know me best and who have real integrity in their
prayer life -- people like Chaplain Stan.

Last night I had a what can only be described as a panic attack. Jan had fallen asleep and I continued to read for awhile. Thoughts of Eli and Seth intruded along with the news of the day about four more soldiers killed in Iraq by an IED. Seth and Eli's recent training has been about dealing with IED's. All these thoughts rattled around in my brain with a force that I couldn't stop. I prayed to God to remove these thoughts from me, to help me relax and know that everything would be okay. Reading Norris Burkes column today I thought about all the people who have told us they are praying for the boys, their wives and us. I know what my prayer life is like and how every day problems and activities drive my time. I don't always follow through on things I say I will do. I know some of those "We're praying for you" statements are statements of intention only. I also know that our family is surrounded by a great host of wonderful family (church and otherwise) who do hold us in their prayers and thoughts. I know that whatever happens in the next year we will be supported by our family and our God....Thanks to all the people who continue to read this blog (and thanks for Tylenol PM.)