BLUF: The End of the Matter; Wisdom of a Clear End State

Text: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl 12:13-14, ESV).

Illustration: It’s been one of those mornings where it seems everything is urgent, and where one’s calendar suddenly fills up with things we didn’t plan for. I had a 0830 Military Funeral Honors (planned). But then I got a call asking for a MFH for a deceased Airman down in Peachtree City (and I was at GA National Cemetery in Canton). So, I reached out to my Air Force peers to see if they could cover down. For whatever reason, they said they couldn’t cover it. Then I reached out to another military chaplain and pastor to see if he could help me out. No answer.

Then I had an SSgt Airman brought to me for triage counseling. Then I had an S1/personnel matter that needed to be addressed via IPPSA, for which I had to link up with personnel. Then my boss wanted to meet with me for how she wanted me to design curricula for future chaplains. Then I had two more Military Funeral Honors come in from Ft. Benning for this coming Friday. I’m not complaining about those, because I love honoring our fallen veterans—regardless of branch of service. On and on it went. Next thing I knew, it was 1430, and I’d not even begun to work ‘my calendared events.’ I suppose we all have days like this—when life hits us at 100 MPH. That’s when it’s crucial to remember the goal, and why we do what we do.

Encouragement: For many years I have had a full-time military job, but it’s not really a ‘job’ to me. The reason is because it’s a calling to me, a vocation, in the truest sense of that term. I get to pastor Soldiers, Airmen, veterans, and Civilians. And I love it. It plays to my strengths of pastoral care and spiritual formation. Remembering always what Solomon calls “the end of the matter” is crucial. It’s the driving passion, the calling, to “nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the fallen.” What Scripture calls “every secret thing” speaks to the reality that God sees all that we do and/or not do in the faithful execution of our duties.