Humbled by Your Presence

In sat haphazardly with a group of 35 teenagers and their adult chaperones in an airport.  I can’t even recall which airport, but I think our destination was Atlanta.  Everyone was weary from our day of travel, wore out after a four-day youth conference and just ready to be home. 

There was some kind of commotion happening down the corridor and then I saw a couple dozen men and women dressed in military uniforms walking towards us.  Civilians were standing up as though we were doing the wave, standing in silence, and removing their hats in honor of the Military Personnel.

Despite the fatigue my group was feeling, everyone jumped to attention and joined in the wave.  We were standing to show honor and respect of those who fight for our freedom.  Their mere presence caused us to forget about our struggles and worries.  We were humbled.

I don’t come from a military family, so don’t know too much about rank or uniforms.  I know just enough to know that I don’t know enough.  Even when my daughter joined the Army, I wasn’t sure of how everything fit together.  I just waited to be told what I was supposed to do and didn’t ask questions; that much I understood.

There is just a different feel when you are in a room or in close proximity with someone who is dressed in uniform, especially a military uniform.  They had to go through some pretty strenuous tasks to earn the right to wear the uniform.  Then someone who has several patches and metals can cause you to be in awe.

Since that day in the airport, my respect of military personnel has grown because I’ve become more aware of what they do and why they do it.  Before that experience, I didn’t even think about it, they are just people too.  However, since I’ve learned many who serve in the military do so because of their desire to be a part of something meaningful.

They join the military perhaps to learn a skill or because they want to earn money for college, but they learn to live with honor.  They learn how to show respect.  Through their training, they find out how it feels to live in difficult circumstances and to push themselves through pain.  They learn about themselves and those whom they train with and eventually serve side by side.

Of course I’ve seen my share of military movies and read recollections of conflicts to understand the intensity of their experiences.  But the one story that has caused me to really see those who serve with deep gratitude is of Medal of Honor Recipient, Kyle Carpenter.

My husband and I first learned of Kyle on a podcast.  We listened to him share about a book he wrote about his experience in the military.  We then read the book, or rather listened to Kyle read the book to us.  Listening to him tell the stories of why he chose to go into the military and how devoted he was to the others he served with and respect he had for his superiors, gave me new insight.

In the book, he also chronologically shares the days leading up to the event which caused him to be considered for the Medal of Honor.  You can hear in his voice the emotions he felt while doing his job and he shares how he stayed motivated while recovering from a serious injury.  I highly recommend listening to the audio book for this reason.

Since reading it, I see the American Flag differently.  When I see a person wearing a military hat or a license plate that says veteran, I pause for a moment of silence.  I have a different attitude when acknowledging veterans or active military at public events; where I know whole heartedly show my appreciation instead of just going through the motions.  And I make a point to take time out to celebrate military holidays, instead of looking at them as an extra ‘day off.’

I’m not saying I was disrespectful before, rather I’m paying more attention now.  

I can look back at moments where I had a brush with this feeling of being humbled in the presence of the military.  In the airport for one, but I’ve attended two military funerals where the soldiers move in unison to fire shots into the air.  I also went to a concert where a military band played and moved about in such measured strokes, they appeared to all be attached to the same string being pulled by a puppet master.

This feeling is different than any I’ve known except when I sit down in front of Jesus.  Like those in the military, Jesus encountered some difficult tasks and endured great pain.  He too has strong ties to those whom he serves and is willing to die for them.  I am grateful for the sacrifices of those in the military and for the sacrifice of Jesus.  I will forever be humbled in their presence!