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Commentary Search

June Chaplain's Reflections

  • Published
  • By Capt. Benjamin McEnitre
  • 169th FW
Strength and Freedom: The Fruit of Teamwork

"May God grant us the wisdom to discover the right, the will to choose it, and the strength to make it endure." It is with this prayer that Sean Connery's King Arthur opens sessions at the round table in the movie "First Knight." As former President Dwight Eisenhower commented on our need for strength by saying, "History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." Like the fictional King Arthur, Eisenhower knew that strength is needed to sustain the virtues we hold dear.

There are two kinds of strength: power and endurance. We are unequaled in power, but that does not guarantee us victory. Why? Because it is not in our ability to move with great speed and strength but in our sustained commitment and fidelity, that we find victory. Any athlete that values comfort over success will always lose to the one that wants to win and is willing to push through anything to do it. Because freedom and justice are just as easily lost to complacency and comfort as they are to conquest, so we must be relentless in our pursuit of freedom.

To overcome challenges in life and combat, we need to rely on one another. Perseverance is a team effort. The ancient Hebrews had a proverb that says, "Two are better than one... for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." By standing together and leaning on one another we can stay motivated and push through. If you are struggling and problems seem ready to overwhelm you, remember that the South Carolina Air National Guard Chaplain Corps is here to help you carry on and push through!

The SCANG Chaplain Corps is available 24/7 to offer support. If you ever need to reach a chaplain outside of drill weekends, please call the Command Post at 803-647-8238 and ask them to connect you with your unit chaplain.