Faith is an interesting word. It’s used in religion daily; one hears it in songs and commercials; “Have faith” seems to be as common as “hello;”…but what does it really mean to have faith and what is worthy of one’s faith? Is winning the lottery worthy of faith? Should one have faith in good health or living a long life? How far can this idea of faith really take you?
On the plane ride home a few weeks ago, I sat next to Carey. Carey is a thirty-year-old father and husband, an avid runner hoping to compete in the Boston marathon, a Southern conservative Baptist, and a soldier. Carey was in the United States Air Force and was flying to Kirkland Air force Base before a mission to Iraq, the second year in three years that he has been stationed there.
Because Carey started our conversation and seemed so open to talk, I began asking him more details about his military career. The moment he started talking, however, I felt as though I was listening to a foreign language. While some of the terms he was using I have heard on the news or in papers, I have no military in my family. After a few minutes of him going on about war stuff that I was clueless about, I had to ask him to stop talking and repeat certain words he used so I could define them.
Here are some definitions I learned that he felt were most important:
IED: Improvised Explosive Device (happens on a convoy from one secure base to another)
Mortar: explosive device of different sizes (similar to a missile) *These are the biggest threats to the military Carey explained
Battery: A test used in the military once training is complete
DLAB: Defense Language Aptitude Test (A test, or “battery” Carey had to take to become a security advisor)
E-1 through E-9: The chain of command with E-1 being the lowest in leadership and E-9 being Chief Master Sergeant
Army Rangers: Hardest leadership school in the military in which men live outdoors in deserts, forests, and other rough terrain to train for being in the militia
After literally taking out my notepad and writing down the definitions word for word, I finally began to understand that Carey was a head officer (he had been in the air force since he was 18) and was a security advisor. His next role in Iraq would be to advise a fellow Iraqi officer on issues of security for the future safety of Iraq. He would be living in 130 degree heat on the base thousands of miles away from his one and three year old daughter and his 26 year old wife because “It is my duty to my country.”
“Okay, so I hate to ask this,” I began, “but aren’t you afraid you might die?” (I tend to get right in there with my questions…) “No, I have faith that I will live. I have faith in God. God’s plan is all that matters.”
While getting off the plane after landing, I asked Carey if he had a ride to the base. “No ma’m,” he responded, “the friend that was supposed to pick me up is sick.” So after my mom’s and my mini reunion of jumping up and down and hugging for five minutes, we waited with Carey to get the bags he packed for his year in Iraq and drove him to the base. While saying goodbye, I asked him for his email so we could stay in touch but he immediately looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know if my wife would like that,” he replied, “why don’t you give me yours instead?” I chuckled and yet fully understood and I wrote mine down as we said goodbye.
As I drove out of the base towards home, I thought about Carey and what I had learned from him. Carey was unlike me in almost every aspect of life. He was a staunch republican while I consider myself very liberal, he is a soldier at war while I am anti-violence, he is Baptist while I am “spiritual” at best…but the faith that Carey embodied was something I felt I could learn from. So often, we as human beings live our life in constant fear of getting hurt or losing someone or dying. Carey couldn’t live like that for his fears were more real than most of ours, but his faith kept him strong and alive. Whether the God we have faith in looks or feels different, or has a different name, Carey’s faith is something we can all feel a little more of.
*** While on the plane back to NYC I decided to write this story. As I got ready to start, however, I realized I had forgotten a pen. The young man sitting next to me said he took one from his hotel and he would gladly give it to me. When I looked down at the “Airforce Inn” pen that I was writing with, I smiled and asked, so are you in the air force? “Yes ma’m,” he responded, “I’m flying back to base.” “Thanks for the pen” I said and smiled…isn’t it funny how life works?
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