Faith

Sgt B, gave a sermon the other day in his church where he gave his Witness to the Glory of God. He writes:

“What is faith?
Faith is what you have when you expect something to happen. You have faith that your car will start when you turn the key. Faith is what you have when you drive that car too fast down the road, and a police officer pulls you over and gives you a ticket. You may not like it, but you kind of expect it to happen.”

Listen to that and think about where you can go with faith. My friend “V” is still battling a rare disease and yet she has faith. Faith can come in many forms and yet it has one undeniable thread that always rings true. Faith in God never lets you down. Even thought the road is a hard one, faith has a way of making that road bearable. For with our Faith we know that death is just the beginning of a new life.

Death is what brings faith home for many people and it was the same for Sgt B., when he relates the story of the loss of a close friend of his. This loss was not on a distant battlefield, as some might expect when a Marine dies. It occurred in a hospital room in California. And this event opened up his eyes so to speak to the presence of God in our lives, now Sgt B., views life and subsequently death differently.

“When a friend dies, I weep at their loss, because I will miss them. But I also celebrate their passing, because they have finally crossed over into Heaven. They check in with Saint Peter at the Golden Gates, and I believe that Christ, Himself, is there to greet them. He greets them with a big hug, like a father hugs his children when he steps off of the plane after a deployment. And says, “Welcome Home.”

Suddenly death really does lose its sting. Why should I fear it? My soul will live on with God, so I‘ve got no worries. Of course, I want to put off the actual event, but it won’t frighten me when it happens.”

Sgt B., is rejoining the military. He says it’s the Guard so I’m assuming that he means the Army National Guard, but it could be a Marine reserve unit, I don’t know. What I do know is that a man, a former soldier, is following his calling and that the faith of God is going with him this time, not as a after thought but rather as the guiding light.

Godspeed Sgt B., we wish you well and keep the faith.