There... To here... And Now...

I lack the ability to correctly type out just how amazing and beautiful the past few days have been for me.  I have intentionally waited a couple days to post this thinking that it would get easier to say, but it has not and I know that I owe you all the last post of my first deployment. 

I say that I owe it to you in all seriousness. One of the companies that I supported was the mortuary affairs Soldiers who deal with almost every fallen hero in the country of Afghanistan.  In my year tour I saw many fallen comrades going home.  When we got on the plane in Kyrgyzstan, I realized that all the Soldiers that I traveled to Afghanistan with were there with me.  That is powerful stuff and with teary eyes I could not say "thank you God," enough as our plane left the ground headed for home.    

In those last couple weeks we lived in tents and were all on our toes because there was a threat of a Suicide Bomber somewhere in the area.  There is not a whole lot that gets me edgy, but the thought of being so close to going home and having myself or some of my Soldiers killed in that way had me worked up.  Earlier in the year, when I found myself in a tricky situation I was praying to God and just reminding him that he had led me to that place, on that day.  My mind went back to the days in high school and college when I would go rock climbing and someone would be at the other end of the rope to keep you from falling in case you slip.  I felt at the end of the rope and found myself asking, "on belay?"  Immediately I felt Gods arms around my spirit and a clear and powerful "Belay on."  So, knowing that God has the other end of the rope, I spent those last couple weeks fully engaged with our replacements, my Soldiers that were getting ready to come home, and those who I would be leaving to the new Chaplain.

After flying for around 18 hours we arrived at home.  When the plane touched down there was just a huge applause and we all felt the relief of being home.  It was dark and rainy when we finally made it to the hanger where all of our family and friends had gathered for our welcome home ceremony.  I was cold, but it was great to feel the rain on my skin (Afghanistan's average rainfall for Jul-Aug is .01).  We all lined up and started walking into the room.  I was in the last of five rows, and to hear the cheering and clapping for those in front of me was indescribable.  I imagine the cloud of witnesses spoken of in Hebrews 12 to be something like this.  I marched in and immediately saw Lindsay, the boys, my parents, and a couple other chaplain families.  We ran to each other and I grabbed all my gear and went home.

And now I sit in my home, with as much privacy as my two sons will give me, and have gone three days without wearing either a PT uniform, or my Multi-cam Uniform.  

So, "thus far" has taken me into Afghanistan and back again.  I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support that you have given to me, my family, and my Soldiers.  For me, I will be moving to another post in the summer and will begin my training as a hospital chaplain for the Army.

God bless you all,