{"id":19843,"date":"2026-03-11T08:22:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T08:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/how-a-military-chaplain-is-finding-strength-after-news-in-afghanistan\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T06:08:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:08:43","slug":"how-a-military-chaplain-is-finding-strength-after-news-in-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/inspiring-stories\/stories-of-faith-and-hope\/how-a-military-chaplain-is-finding-strength-after-news-in-afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Military Chaplain Is Finding Strength After News in Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Afghanistan is a hard place. The collapse of the Afghan government and the events that have occurred in the past week because of it have left me irritable, hurt, deeply disturbed and unsettled. News of the fall of major cities\u2014Kunduz, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Khowst, Gahzni, Kabul\u2014awakened memories of sacrifice<\/a>, aspirations for freedom and hope<\/a> of a people that now seem shattered. The indignity and dishonor symbolized by the chaos of crowds mobbing our departing Air Force C-17 on the Kabul International Airport runway leave me raw.<\/p>\n

From May 2003 to April 2004, I served as Combined Joint Task Force 180 Chaplain, with religious support responsibilities covering United States and Allied Forces in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. At our Change of Command Ceremony on the Bagram Airfield tarmac on April 15, 2004, I prayed: \u201cAlmighty God, the Scriptures record, \u2018those who wait upon You get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles<\/a>.\u2019\u201d Now, some 17 years later, I find myself needing some of that strength the prophet Isaiah wrote so poetically about. For me, it comes in the following ways:<\/p>\n

Reach out.<\/strong> Life in the Armed Forces is all about relationships. Whether veteran<\/a>, Active Duty or Reserve, civilian or contractor, family member or deploying spouse, we take care of each other. Extend a hand. Do a \u201cbuddy check.\u201d Few things are as valuable as the email I received earlier this week: \u201c…the recent horrors in Afghanistan. I imagine it is hard to reckon with since you invested so much there.\u201d Acknowledging pain and camaraderie through email, text, call, social media, or card, with an Armed Forces member or veteran you hold dear can renew and enhearten.<\/p>\n

Pray.<\/strong> I find myself \u201cdoubling down\u201d on petitions to God for our soldiers and Marines who are now deploying, Air Force crews and manifests flying in and out of Kabul, departing State Department officials processing Afghanistan citizens desiring exit. Prayers for former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is reportedly staying in Kabul to promote dialogue rather than violence, seem especially appropriate. Additionally, following through on the Apostle Paul<\/a>\u2019s words in Romans to \u201c…pattern our lives after the One who took on the troubles of the troubled,\u201d we can pray in solidarity for and with the Afghan people. Distressing news accounts, photos and videos can be incentives for such prayer.<\/p>\n

Process.<\/strong> Voice your heaviness. Vent frustrations. Share feelings of disappointment. Seeking out a trusted friend to serve as an emotional \u201cshock absorber,\u201d someone who can hear bitter, distressing, sorrowful or unproductive feelings, is essential. Battle buddies from the past; esteemed family members; a former coach, teacher, mentor<\/a> or rabbi, imam, priest or pastor; medical center or Veterans Affairs personnel; all can provide safe, helpful, listening and process-enabling ears.<\/p>\n

Take responsibility.<\/strong> Avoid pointing fingers in blame<\/a>. Shrill, angry, self-righteous \u201cI told you so\u201d pronouncements serve too often to divide and depress rather than unite and enlighten. We are all in this together. Realizing our shared humanity as citizens and friends of these United States of America can promote a spirit of consensus and humility so needed in these troublesome times.<\/p>\n

Strengthen resolve.<\/strong> Heavy, sad feelings. Asking, \u201cWas it worth it?\u201d Most of us experience this dismay. Yet, in broader analysis, our individual and collective efforts in Afghanistan have kept al Qaeda from staging global attacks; we\u2019ve offered pioneering opportunities for freedom and development; and together we have shared resources, friendship, treasure, sweat and blood that the human rights of all Afghan people might flourish.<\/p>\n

On a deeper level, the sense of calling enjoyed by our Forces to serve and protect with discipline, love and leadership, is a source of profound, healthy pride and respect. The camaraderie of shared hardship<\/a>, and professional competence to \u201csupport and defend the Constitution of the United States…\u201d give meaning to the cause we have embraced. The glory of spirit and nobility of purpose championed by the women and men with whom we\u2019ve served are humbling. They\u2019ve steadfastly stood on watch for us all.<\/p>\n

I concluded the Change of Command Ceremony prayer those many years ago with additional words echoing the prophet Isaiah: \u201c…may [those] who follow us experience similar fulfillment\u2014at the end of their tour\u2014as we do now…to possess a deep sense of gratitude to You…and to delight in the fruits of one\u2019s labor and be satisfied.\u201d May we be encouraged, even in these uncertain days, with similar fulfillment and satisfaction, and be blessed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Afghanistan is a hard place. The collapse of the Afghan government and the events that have occurred in the past week because of it have left me irritable, hurt, deeply disturbed and unsettled. News of the fall of major cities\u2014Kunduz, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Khowst, Gahzni, Kabul\u2014awakened memories of sacrifice, aspirations for freedom and hope of a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[257,185],"tags":[50,15,79,26,161],"ppma_author":[1390],"class_list":["post-19843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-families","category-stories-of-faith-and-hope","tag-compassion","tag-faith","tag-healing","tag-hope","tag-military"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow a Military Chaplain Is Finding Strength After News in Afghanistan - Guideposts Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How a Military Chaplain Is Finding Strength After News in Afghanistan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Afghanistan is a hard place. 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