Deployments loom on Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, we once again pause to honor the men and women who have served and are serving our country.  We pause to remember the sacrifices made to protect the freedoms we take for granted.

But this year, Veterans Day feels a little more personal.  An upcoming deployment means that many military personnel, including my son-in-law and several of my college students, will soon be leaving their homes, their campus, their families and friends to serve our country.  For some, it will be their first deployment.  For others, it may be a familiar experience.  Regardless of how many times someone has worn the uniform, leaving the people you love and stepping into the uncertainty of what lies ahead is never easy.

As a pastor, I often encourage people to pray during uncertain times.  These past weeks I have found myself doing a little more praying.

Prayer doesn't mean we never feel afraid.  It doesn't mean we have all the answers or that we can somehow control the circumstances around us.  Prayer is not a guarantee that life will unfold exactly as we wish.  Instead, prayer is an act of trust.  It is the way we bring our fears, our hopes, and the people we love into the presence of God.

Sometimes our prayers are long and carefully spoken.  Other times, they are as simple as, "Lord, keep them safe."  We pray while driving down the road, while lying awake at night, while sitting quietly in church or when a news story reminds us of the dangers faced by those serving far from home.

We pray for protection, for wisdom, for strength, and for peace.  We pray for the military personnel carrying out their duties and for families waiting at home.  We pray for the people who will miss their loved ones most during the holidays, birthdays, and ordinary family gatherings.  

One of the beautiful things about prayer is that we do not have to know every detail to pray for someone.  We don't have to know where they are, what they're doing or what challenges they may face.  We simply have to remember them and place them in God's care.

I have been reminded that deployment is not only a military matter.  It is a family matter.  Recently, my granddaughter began to realize what her dad's upcoming deployment would mean.  It wasn't simply that he would be gone for an extended period of time,  it meant he wouldn't be home for Christmas.  That realization brought sadness that no amount of explaining could completely take away. Children don't understand military orders, international responsibilities, or the reasons their parents must leave.  They know they want their dad home for Christmas.  Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is simply acknowledge that missing someone hurts.

Philippians 4: 6-7 encourages us to bring our concerns to God in prayer with the promise of God's peace, which surpasses all understanding.  A peace that does not necessarily remove our worries, but it can help carry us through them.  It reminds us that when we cannot be physically present with someone we love, we are never beyond the reach of God's presence.

Veterans Day gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude not only for those who have served, but also for those currently serving and the families who sacrifice alongside them.  A thank-you, a note of encouragement, a meal for a family managing alone, or a sincere offer of help can mean more than we realize.  And a prayer offered on someone's behalf is never a wasted moment.

This Veterans Day, if you know someone preparing for deployment, reach out.  If you know a family whose loved one is away, offer your support.  And whether you know their names or not, include our service members and their families in your prayers.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is also the simplest:  remember, support, give thanks, and pray.  This Veterans Day, may we honor those who serve not only with our words, but with our prayers, our compassion, and our willingness to care for the people who wait for them at home.