Chaplain’s Column
The present of presence
“In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground.
Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine. “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.”
Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news. Man had flown.
In the excitement of the holiday season, are we missing the big news? Christmas is about “For God so loved that he gave…” He gave the present of His presence! Immanuel meaning “God with us.”
Are we constantly filling our holiday season with shopping for the next gift, going to the next party, or visiting the next relative?
You get the idea.
The real problem with that, is when we’re always focused on the next thing or something in the future, we’re never really living in the moment. The “Big News” is people really matter! Before we realize it, the lights will be down and the decorations will be put away. You may not even remember the parties and some parties, like some gifts, you may not want to remember. The next thing we know; it will be time to begin that New Year diet. The holidays come and go so quickly.
The total expected holiday sales this year are actually expected to exceed $1 trillion dollars. How much will we invest in others? You don’t have to spend a lot to give a lot. Invest in a gift that will last the holidays. Invest in others!
According to USNI News, “During 2017 and the first half of this year, the Navy reported an increase in the number of Sailors taking their own lives, and service officials haven’t been able to pin down a cause for the increase.”
Between 2012, when the DoD’s Defense Suicide Prevention Office started publishing suicide data, and 2016, the Navy’s suicide rates tracked below the DoD average rate and generally mirrored DoD’s year-to-year ups and downs.
In 2017, though, the Navy saw 66 active-duty Sailors commit suicide, a 53 percent spike compared to the year before, according to statistics collected by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office.
During the first half of 2018, 36 active-duty Sailors committed suicide, according to the most recent numbers provided to USNI News. The six-month total suggests the Navy is on track to finish 2018 with a number of suicides similar to 2017’s six-year high.
I believe that our presence is the greatest gift that we can give to someone. It demonstrates to that person that we hear them, we see them and that they really matter to us. Everybody just wants to be seen and know that they matter.
In this festive season, I encourage you to love with all your heart and give your greatest gift – your presence. Be fully present with your family, friends, loved ones and shipmates. Sam Walton said, “Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free—and worth a fortune.”
Give the present of your presence this Christmas!