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Cyber Family,
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:9-10
I remember as a child watching the Navy recruiting commercials on television and thinking how cool they were. Recruitment slogans such as: “Join the Navy and see the world” and “It’s not just a job, it's an adventure!” Behind both of the slogans is the message that to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces will enable a person to see places and do things unusual and exciting. What is not mentioned is that the recruits will have little to say about where they will go or what they will do...right! In the lingo of the Marines, “The head shed decides all of that” or the lingo of the Army, “home is where the Army sends you.”
In Psalm 139:9-10, King David writes, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Notice the phrase, “the wings of the dawn.” It points one to the east, where the sunrise spreads itself on the horizon as if it had wings. For the Israelite, “the far side of the sea” was to the west, where the sun sets. David is saying: “Wherever I go.”
For those of you that have worn the uniform or still do, have seen sunrises and sunsets in far off places. Sometimes we were on an adventure. At other times, we certainly would have not called it that. At all times, there was an element of risk. It came with the job. The job is to protect America, even if it means going to distant and dangerous places. King David understood the risk of being a warrior. He spent most of his life at war. His career started with taking down of Goliath. He carried his weapons even into old age. He was a hero, but he was not self-reliant. He was not cocky. He knew that his life was but a breath that could fade in less than a minute. He understood that the Lord God was king over him, and the source of his strength. Of the Lord, David said, “You shield my head in the day of battle” (Psalm 140:7).
The question every warrior asks as he heads into danger is, “Will my support be there when I need it? Will someone have my back? Will someone cover me when I move into danger?” David had brave and tested troops under him. He depended upon them. But most of all, he depended upon the Lord his God. The Lord would be there no matter where he went. He would be there to guide him. He would be there to support him. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” David will write in the 23rd Psalm. “I will fear no evil”" he will say. “For thou art with me.” he will explain.
“Wherever I go.” he said. East or west, or anyplace in between-his God will be there.
“Wherever I go.” On mountain tops or in valleys-his God will be there.
“Wherever I go.” In life or in death-his God will be there.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” This is the promise of the one who defeated death and gave us life everlasting.
This God is our God. This promise is to us. Our God will be there to guide and support.
Even when we rise on the wings of the dawn.
God bless you and enjoy your weekend,
CH McVey
Chaplain Gregory S. McVey
CH (Maj.) U.S. Army
Brigade Chaplain
780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2018 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 282022 |
| Location: | FORT MEADE, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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