CROSSING PATHS

CROSSING PATHS

A few years ago my pastor announced that a member of our congregation would be delivering the Sunday message while he was out of town.  He introduced Lee Becknell, a former Navy chaplain who had deployed with the US Marine Corps.   As you know by now, that was all I needed to hear to tweak my interest!!!!  

Wanting to learn more I introduced myself to Lee after the service and asked what unit he served with.    He had been chaplain with 2nd LAR (2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance).   I asked if he knew their chaplain to whom I was currently shipping care packages, Ray Rivers.   He told me the two of them were together in Afghanistan for a few weeks as Lee was transitioning to come home and Ray was transitioning in for his tour.  The situation was extremely dangerous  at that time. Combat was at it's peak and their service as chaplains was demanding, draining  and emotional.   Lee and I  spoke briefly about his tour and his years as chaplain with the MC and remarked what a small world the Marine Corps is after all !!

When I arrived home from church that Sunday I did what I typically do.  I fixed a little lunch and settled down with the Sunday Washington Post.  As I flipped through the paper I came across a full page article with photographs of a chaplain serving with his Marines in combat.   The interview just happened to feature Ray Rivers and the 2nd LAR!    It was an in-depth story of the life of a chaplain in a combat atmosphere.   Keeping the faith in dire and heart breaking situations, dealing with the needs of his troops, their families, financial, religious and many other matters.   The high intensity of their surroundings and the depth of these interactions can remain with them long after they return home, if not forever.   I did send Ray and his wife copies of the paper so they could share them with friends and family.

It never ceases to amaze me how I seem to be connected to so many people whose paths have crossed before they crossed mine!   About the same time there was another chaplain I  became friends with through the care packages, Terry Roberts,  who served with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.  A funny thing happened when Terry deployed.  I tried to call him the day he was leaving but he had left his cell phone with his mom in Ohio and it was she who answered the phone.   We struck up a conversation that led to the most wonderful friendship via telephone throughout his deployment and beyond.   With so many friends in North Carolina I often thought I should spend a week down there and try to meet up with so many of the people I knew via emails and phones.

My nephew the Marine had settled in NC after getting out of the MC and lived not that far from his parents.   He was getting married and the wedding was to be on a Saturday with the next day being Mother's Day.   What a perfect time to invite the chaplains and other MC friends out to my sister's home for a little gathering.   As I look back it seems hard to believe that was nearly three years ago.   Ray and Terry were both able to come.   Ray brought his wife and five wonderful children and Terry brought his parents who happened to be in town for a short time.   One of my first contacts for care packages back in 2004, SgtMaj Courtney Curtis was able to make it as well. Courtney had been to Maryland a couple of times previously so we already knew each other and he and his wife had invited me to dinner a year or two earlier while we were there for one of my nephew's homecomings.    What a gathering it was for some of us to meet for the first time and for my family to meet some of my 'military' family.  It was a Mother's Day none of us would forget the day after a wedding we would never forget!!!    We learned so much about one another and we were so grateful to be together........to give thanks to God for what we have....each other and the blessing of fellowship.   To this day I remain in contact with these three wonderful friends and their families.   Again I am aware of how God is working in our lives by bringing us together.