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October Chaplain's Reflections

  • Published
  • By Capt. Christina Pittman
  • 169th Fighter Wing
MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. --  
"When Life Calls for a Redo"

How many times in life do you wish you could have a "redo?"  I am not terribly gifted when it comes to technology, which means I need a "redo" quite frequently. One of my favorite buttons on the MSWord document page is the undo symbol. The option to go back to the prior edit page saves me from costly mistakes. When life just happens, there is no "redo" button. Trials are a challenge and we cannot change the past, so consider creating a new beginning.  There are many opportunities in life that give us occasions for a new beginning. Faith is one area of life which offers a new beginning and reconciliation in relationships to start fresh with no mistakes, much like a "redo."

Two religions, Islam and Judaism, celebrate their new beginnings thru New Year celebration, October 2. In the Islamic faith, this day is set aside to reflect on the migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. He made this journey in order to escape oppression and violence. In Medina, Mohammad was able to recover and grow spiritually thus gaining a new start in life and in faith. Also starting on October 2 is the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah.  The celebration begins the night before with a ceremonial dipping of apples in honey to signify the sweet new beginning to come in the New Year. Through these faiths believers can mark a time to reflect and make application that life can have a sweet fresh start in the New Year.

As we all look to the month of October with redeployments, religious celebrations, breast cancer awareness, and our Fox Trot Warrior Run for wounded warrior support, may we all be inspired to face each day as a new beginning. Many people have tackled unfathomable set-backs in relationships, life altering illnesses like cancer, and just struggling to live a stress-free life yet found the strength to rise above the circumstance and live a new life. What do you need in order to push the "redo" button in life? 

Think about your life and what you may need to have a fresh start with a circumstance or relationship. It is not easy to undo what effects devastating trials can have on life. The truth is you are worth the effort and time to have a "redo" and begin again. The SCANG Chaplain Corps is available to help give you support and resources to begin again. Please contact us and we can help you live with the perspective that each day is fresh and new with no mistakes and worth living.