Photo By Senior Airman Cassandra Whitman | U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Charles Gormley, who is temporarily assigned to the...... read more read more
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Seizing opportunities in a business setting can come with rewards, exceptional pay and good social status. What isn’t as prominently mentioned, is that it can come at great personal cost.
Chaplain (Capt.) Charles Gormley, who is temporarily assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing, discovered his climb up the corporate ladder wasn’t fulfilling his spiritual passion. After working for Google and later in the aerospace industry, he decided it was time to make a big change.
“With as great of a career as I’ve had, I knew deep down spirituality was very important to me,” said Gormley. “It’s a realm that has helped me tremendously in the past and it’s something I believe Airmen in general tend to ignore at times.”
Gormley did not take the decision to join the Air Force lightly, and he admitted to having a lot of temptations to stay where he was. When his mom got sick, it caused him to re-evaluate and reprioritize things in his life, which led him to his ultimate decision.
“Being honest, this isn’t the highest paying job in the world, but for me, it’s the most fulfilling,” he said. “I’ve made more impact helping people as a Chaplain than I ever did dealing with money or trying to advance in the business world.”
The more Gormley progressed in the corporate world, the less content he felt. The Chaplain Corps gives him purpose and motivates him to think beyond his own needs and focus on how to help Airmen.
Knowing it sounds cliché, Gormley explained that Airmen do the jobs that preserved what he did as a civilian.
“They protect our freedoms, families and our well-being in life,” he said. “That fuels my motivation to help those who often get taken for granted.”
“The biggest motivation I have is my faith in God,” he said, smiling with content. “Understanding He is a figure rather than a spirit and that He is benevolent makes me want to be a co-laborer for Him. But my second biggest motivation is the Airmen.”
Gormley’s fulfillment, though largely based on his faith and spirituality, isn’t solely found in the religious aspects of being a Chaplain, but rather being able to help Airmen of all different backgrounds, faiths, mindsets and personalities.
“Sometimes people are afraid to talk with Chaplains because they think we are only religious figures,” he explained. “While we do have religion, we are here for all Airmen, to discuss anything and everything they want to.”
It isn’t always easy to drop what you’re doing to follow your passion, but there is always a way to incorporate it into your life.
“Following your passion can’t always align with what you’re presently doing, but I think when people find that passion, they should work toward trying to find a way to work it in their everyday lives,” said Gormley. “Just because you’re doing something now that isn’t your passion, doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing; it can be used as a stepping stone for what you want to do later on.”
Pursuing happiness doesn’t always lead to a path of fulfillment, but when the stars align, and the yearning inside overwhelms you, your heart will lead the way.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2018 11:38 |
| Story ID: | 273377 |
| Location: | EIELSON AFB, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Finding fulfillment in the pursuit of happiness, by SrA Cassandra Whitman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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