May Chaplain's Reflections Published April 25, 2013 By Capt. Alan Findley 169th Fighter Wing MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, South Carolina -- Sowing Properly "For whatever one sows, that will he also reap." Galatians 6:7 (ESV) Several years ago, I really wanted a garden. However, I was not interested in doing the necessary work for the garden: removing the grass, tilling the ground and keeping the weeds at bay. Each fall, I would longingly gaze at my neighbor's garden and wished I invested the necessary labor the previous spring. I would then be determined to break the crazy cycle of desire, laziness and longing. In many ways our relationships are like this crazy cycle. If we do not put in the necessary work, there will be struggles. I had the opportunity to join other Swamp Fox couples for a well put together couple's retreat. As a chaplain and pastor, it was nice to sit on the other side of the desk and work on being a better husband. My wife and I really enjoyed the entire weekend. It was a blast meeting other couples and discovering their desire to improve their marriage relationship. My wife and I were brought closer together as a result of the retreat. I encourage every Swamp Fox to consider attending a Strong Bonds event. There are three more scheduled this fiscal year. Take some time and work on your marriage, family or being a productive single person. You will be surprised of the benefits you will reap. I once heard someone say, "Proper planning prevents preventable problems." You can reap the benefits for years to come by planning on spending a weekend focused on your important relationships.