Happy Ramadan - Week 33

This week has been mostly business as usual, so I thought I would share more about a religious holiday I was slightly familiar with before, but now am more acquainted with: Ramadan! One of my responsibilities as the Operations Chaplain is coordinating travel for some of our High Demand/Low Density Chaplains (like Jewish and Muslim) during religious holidays. That’s one of the reasons I have been so busy these last couple months in handling a lot of logistics for these missions. Well, our Muslim Chaplain got here a couple weeks ago and we were able to get him around the area to visit Service Members and Department of Defense civilians for the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar which begins and ends with the crescent moon, which is a key symbol of their faith. Toward the end of the month is when they believe the Prophet Muhammad received the revelation that is now the Quran. During this month, they refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. It is a period of introspection, communal prayer, and reading of the Quran. They believe God forgives the sins of those who observe the holy month of fasting with prayer and faithful intention. But it is more a practice in self-restraint. Not just in food and drink, but also in behavior toward others. 

After sunset, Muslims usually gather together to have a meal called iftar. I had the opportunity to gather with the Muslim community here and share one of these meals with them at the cafeteria. 

The Muslim Chaplain, who has become a friend as well, invited me over and we discussed our common principles of faith include fasting, giving to the poor, worshipping the God of Abraham, and practicing goodwill toward others. As it turns out, he wrestled in college and visited BYU before. I was able to share with him some materials that our Church published regarding many of the similarities we both share in our faith traditions (Muslims and Latter-day Saints: Beliefs, Values, and Lifestyles).

I learned that Muslims also believe that Jesus will come again to restore peace and justice to this world and bring us to God. We had some great connections and I feel blessed for having the opportunity to come here during this special time. Even though it is illegal during Ramadan to eat or drink in public during daylight hours in this country (we were literally warned not to do so when leaving the military installation or we would be ticketed and fined), I can appreciate people who genuinely practice their faith. In a way, it strengthens my own faith that God touches people’s lives in many ways. I look forward to the day when Jesus comes again and I can stand side by side with my Muslim brothers and sisters who also look forward to His coming.

In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

Passover And Easter - Week 32

I have become friends with one of our new Chaplains here who is a Jewish Rabbi from New York, originally from Israel, and is here to provide Jewish support during Passover. I had the opportunity to attend his service for Seder, the first night of Passover. 

We just finished studying it in our Sunday School curriculum and it was neat to be there participating in an event that has been an ongoing tradition for over 3,000 years. It also happens to be on the same weekend as Easter, just like it was during the first Easter. 

I was given the honor of sitting at the head of one of the tables, so I was responsible for handing out the different food and drink that was symbolic of God's mercy upon us during the Exodus from Egypt. 

This Rabbi friend of mine also gave me a very meaningful gift.

This looks like an ordinary pencil made from a stick. But he explained that he bought this in Jerusalem the last time he was there, and it is made from a fallen tree that was in the Garden of the Empty Tomb (or as he put it “the place where Jesus’ body disappeared”). It was an excellent reminder of that place we celebrate this time of year where it was first declared “He is not here, for He is risen.”

We got together on Saturday night with some of the other members of our LDS group and watched “Lamb of God” by Rob Gardner. I love this production and can’t get enough of it. The music is so moving, and I highly recommend it.

Then, I got up early on Sunday morning so I could go participate in the Easter sunrise service. I have never been to one of these before, and I'm glad I had the experience. 

As I walked to the field where the service was held, I was reminded of Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb on Sunday morning “while it was yet dark.” Then as we were reminded of the glorious resurrection while the first light of the sun peaked over the horizon, it was a wonderous reminder of the light Jesus has brought into our lives since that morning He conquered death for all of us. 

I sat next to a fellow Soldier who asked my belief of the resurrection, whether it was literal or figurative. He shared some of his concerns about conflicting messages he had heard about weather Jesus’ “presence” was simply upon someone else or if he only returned in Spirit. I was able to testify to him that Jesus was literally resurrected, that His spirit reunited with His body in perfect form, never again to be separated. He ate food with his apostles, they were able to touch his body and witness for themselves that it was Him. He visited many others after His resurrection. And because He was resurrected, He paved the way for all of us to be resurrected one day too.

I had the privilege of giving the Easter sermon at our own service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Thankfully, Dana had sent me a wonderful replica of a set of figurines, each with a message about the Easter story (from Emily Belle Freeman's book "Celebrating A Christ-Centered Easter" 2015). The explanation of each of these figures and the insights we gain from each one was a powerful message, and I am grateful for Dana helping me in this ministry by sending it to me.

This has been a magnificent season to celebrate our Savior and Redeemer. The same One who “Passed over” the ancient Israelites and miraculously brought them out of captivity to remember His covenant with them, and gave them a reminder of His sacrifice for them. He is the same One who lived, and died, and lived again for all of us. I am eternally grateful to my Savior and my opportunity to testify of Him.

 

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield

Norwegian Foot March - Week 31

For the last few months I have been practicing and training for this Norwegian Foot March event which happened yesterday. To complete it successfully, a soldier must march 30 km (18.6 miles) in 4 hours and 30 minutes or less, in full uniform with boots wearing a ruck (backpack) weighing at least 25 pounds. That’s a pace of about 14:30 per mile. Norway started this tradition in 1915 as they prepared for “The Great War” in training their new recruits and building esprit de corp. It is an approved foreign badge that we are authorized to wear on our dress uniform. So I thought it would be a good goal and challenge to work toward. 

I had only done one 6-mile ruck march in the Chaplain Basic Officer Course, so I put in 54 miles of practice over the last three months. I took pictures of my blisters and toenails falling off (which really grossed out my kids) to show them an example of sacrificing for a goal. I don’t think it had the effect I was going for because they just questioned my sanity and made faces of disgust…

Nevertheless, I prepared and the day finally came. I was super excited to get going as we showed up at midnight to weigh our bags. We stepped off at 0100 and I was off to a good start. I was fortunate to have a Chaplain friend of mine join me so we could pace each other. 

After the first half, I could feel my feet aching with blisters, but I prepared in advance with moleskin around the areas I usually blistered up, so it was manageable. During the last lap my legs were reaching exhaustion and I continued to pray to the Lord to help me endure and finish strong. Well, He did and I certainly felt strengthened beyond my own capacity. As I crossed the finish line with 20 seconds to spare, I nearly collapsed from exhaustion and hobbled to the rendezvous point. I had accomplished my goal with the help of the Lord!

Dana asked me before the event why I was doing this again. I told her 1: It is a physical manifestation of building character and resilience. The blisters and muscles will heal, but character and resilience can last a lifetime. 2:  I want to be an example to my children of those very things and show them that it is possible to do hard things that stretch you beyond your own capacity because then you see the Lord’s hand in your life. 3: I wanted that foreign badge on my uniform to show I am more than “just the chaplain” but can do what any other Soldier is expected to do.

As I have been studying the accounts of Enoch, Moses, Abraham, and Jacob over these last few months, I have noticed the theme that when they are asked to go through challenges the Lord doesn’t turn into a cheerleader, but simply reassures them “I will be with you.” This was one of those times I could feel the Lord with me and can testify He is with us in our most challenging times. All we have to do is turn to Him and we will feel His strength, love, and grace.

 

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE! - Week 30

I think the change for me when I went from “enduring” General Conference to actually looking forward to General Conference was April 2002, the month before I left on my two-year mission to Sao Paulo Brazil. I remember paying much closer attention, writing notes, looking for inspiration and answers to prayers. I certainly found what I was looking for when I learned how to dive deeper into the Spirit which was manifested through those inspired messages. I have followed this pattern for the last 20 years, and it has never disappointed me. Each time I find new insights, correction, inspiration, and direction for my life.

This time, I recognize I have been feeling somewhat burned out due to the busyness of my responsibilities here. I needed some spiritual rejuvenation. What do you know, those were the exact words President Nelson used in his opening remarks! I am so grateful for the additional emphasis of several speakers, to the youth in particular, to serve a full-time mission. I add my testimony to theirs that those two years taught me so much about how to serve, lead, love, teach, learn, and work. If I had to restart my life a hundred times, I would make that decision every time. I sacrificed two years of my life and other pursuits for the God I love even more, and He has “richly blessed me” for it ever since. There are so many blessings in my life today that never would have happened had I not served. It made me who I am today and continues to positively influence my life.

These conference messages also reminded me of my resolve to serve this mission I am on now with conviction, fortitude, and consecration. Though certainly not a proselytizing mission, I am still serving the God I love in different ways. Each time I give a talk or lesson in Church, lead a resiliency group, meet with individuals in a counseling setting, or give a presentation on conflict management, teamwork, or suicide prevention, I am sharing my testimony of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a variety of ways.

As I listened to Elder Holland speak of helping those with depression and suicidal ideations, and then Elder Kearon speak of those who have been affected by trauma, I listened very intently. These are the mental health challenges I work with most often as a professional counselor, and even here in this deployment. I loved to hear of their affirming messages based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth about who we really are, and the help that is really available. I felt the distinct impression that the Lord has prepared me to help Him in the work of healing His children affected by these conditions. I feel a sense of gratitude and humility that the Lord can use me to do His work. I pray every day that He will continue to do so, because there is no greater joy than to serve my God by serving His children.

In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield