Help Me!
24 | August 2018 | Real Hero Report
Chief Walter Retires After
36 Years
“I didn’t think I was going to make it” was the opening statement
by a class president in his graduation speech for a state law
enforcement agency. Then he continued, “But that Sunday
morning, the chaplain who led our worship opened with the words
of the 121st Psalm. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where does
my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and
earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2 NRSV) Then I knew I was going to make it
because that was my scripture when I was deployed in the military in a
war zone.”
This cadet class president won his victory the same way Eleazar
won his victory as one of King David’s mighty warriors. Eleazar
singlehandedly defeated the Philistines in 2 Samuel 23: 9-10 (NRSV).
The Israelites withdrew, but he stood his ground. He struck down the
Philistines until his arm grew weary, though his hand clung to the
sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the people
came back, but only to strip the dead.
This incident so aptly describes our first responders and military
personnel. First, their DNA is to stand in the face of danger, even
running toward danger while everyone else runs in the other direction.
“The Israelites withdrew but he stood his ground.” On a mirror near
Ground Zero were these words that a first responder had written with
her finger in the human ash and dust covering the mirror, “While others
run out, we run in!” How true to their DNA!
They also do their DUTY. “…His arm grew weary though his
hand clung to the sword.” My dad used to talk about people having
gumption, which can be defined as “courage” or “guts.” It takes
gumption to be willing to put one’s life literally on the line as one’s duty,
which means to give oneself to something bigger than yourself.
The third part of the first responder’s job description is DIFFICULTY.
These scriptures speak of “the dead.” Eleazar stood in the midst of the
battle’s aftermath. Many a first responder or military person can relate
to standing amid great suffering and pain. Dealing with difficult events
time after time can sear the soul of any human. USA Today ran this
headline article about 2017: “More responders committed suicide than
died on duty.” My thought is that those suicides were caused because a
person was overcome with hopelessness; because of their line of duty
and the scenes of senseless violence and carnage they encountered.
This leads back to the first point that Eleazar only won the victory
through the power of the Lord, who “brought about a great victory that
day,” which is the first responder DUNAMIS, or “power to overcome.”
In the Bible, Dunamis is the Greek word that means “power” from
which the word “dynamite” is derived. I pray that every military or first
responder whose DNA it is to fulfill his or her duty in the most difficult
of situations will stand on the dunamis, which is literally the power of
the Lord.
Chief Master Sgt. Robert L. Walter, 94th Force Support Squadron
superintendent, smiles upon receiving a shadow box during his
retirement ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Josh Kincaid)
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