Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.

Chris Hadfield

“Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.”

Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:25 NLT)

I noticed a post on a friends Facebook page the other day.  I was deeply saddened to know how  they are struggling with an issue that is beyond imagine.  Social media can be a place where our friends are able to share our struggles, and where today, we often seek help with our worries, anxiety, and the fears of life.

I think we all wrestle with worry, especially when things happen that we either cannot control, or when we must wrestle through situations, in order to come up with a viable solution.  “Bumps in the road” and the unexpected detours do not alone have the power to distract us. Those “alternates” are what can add interest and richness to our journey.  We often cannot choose our circumstances, nor the events life presents us, but we can choose how we will respond.  Our character is molded and our faith grows when we trust God in all circumstances.  However, when we give unchecked power to distractions and “bumps in the road,” we become frozen in fear, and we stop moving forward.

If we allow worry and anxiety to consume us, we will most likely, miss the new possibilities inherent when problems occur. Even so, when life does happen, when trials and troubles come our way, the fear is very real and it can shut us down.  I wish it were easy to just have immense courage and trust that “God’s got this,” but the journey of faith is not an easy one.  Remember, Our Lord, the one we Christians claim we follow, his journey led to a cross and death.  Our faith is fraught with fear, ambiguity, and uncertainty.  When fear comes our way we have grace to decide to stay on the road and trust God, despite the rugged path.  In prayer and in silence, we can tap into the solace of God’s peace, when those uncertainties of anxiety arise.  Walking with Christ through the struggles of life is a wonderful journey.  Be encouraged, and enjoy the view along the way.

As you approach the end of 2017, what are the things that you look back on with great delight and joy? What are the unknown possibilities that you’re dreaming about for 2018? What baggage will you leave behind? What spiritual disciplines will you take on, which will provide you with strength, courage, and peace?

Sometimes, we have to live quietly, patiently, and faithfully in the ambiguity of life and trust that God’s in charge. Other times, we must take a stand, face what is ahead, and walk toward the unknown with courage, boldness, and decisiveness and yes, even then, trust that God is in charge. Lord, give us the wisdom to know that YOU are the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, and we are the created, redeemed, and sustained.

Eric Cooter

by Ch. Maj. Eric Cooter, CAP Group 5 Chaplain/Unit Chaplain

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines “Integrity” both as “the quality of being honest and fair,” as well as “the state of being complete or whole.”  When most of us think of integrity, the characteristics of honesty and fairness usually come to mind.  However, a life of honesty and fairness requires us to be emotionally, physically, as well as spiritually whole.  Wholeness means that we are living in a state of “not lacking or leaving out any part.”

Life’s circumstance can often leave us lacking.  When we are physically ill or we experience an injury, our entire state of wholeness shifts.  Our mental state becomes challenged, we may become despondent, and our spirit focuses on the negative. When our emotional state is challenged because of stress, we often feel that emotion in our guts or for some of us, our immune system becomes compromised and we catch a cold or some other minor illness.  When we overlook our spiritual practices, or we fail to care for our spiritual selves, we may experience the emotions of despondency, fear, or a lack of peace.

Alternatively, when we exercise and eat properly, when we take time for meditation, prayer, or other spiritual/religious practices, and when we spend quality time with friends and family, our health tends to improve, we focus more on the positive, and we feel more connected to others and the world around us.  An online Mayo Clinic article states, “Taking the path less traveled by exploring your spirituality can lead to a clearer life purpose, better personal relationships and enhanced stress management skills.”(1)

We are a whole person that cannot be divided.  We are more than mere mental and physical functions. We are intelligent, emotional, and spiritual beings, who require balance in order to be whole.   An aircraft engine requires fuel, air, and spark to run properly, and if any of those things are out of balance, the engine does not run at its optimum level.

Accomplishing our individual mission tasks and working together as a team, to insure we accomplish our team mission requires all of us to function at our optimum level.

Living the core values of CAP can be a challenge for all of us, but achieving our goals, accomplishing the mission, and living a life of “honesty and fairness,” living as a person of integrity requires each of us to be whole.  Like packing up your “mission bag” with MRE’s and water purification tablets, or conducting a pre-flight before starting the engine, begin the practice of taking care of yourself and your mission readiness.  Eat well, get plenty of rest, have fun and play, spend time with your family and friends, study and work to improve your skills, and take care of your spirit.  Pray, meditate, and consider committing to a frequent observance of the religious practices of your faith tradition.  Commit to be your whole self, your balanced self, and your best self.  Live with integrity!

(1)http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044464

My articles published by Ministry Matters online magazine