The other day I had a brief conversation with my doctor. When our conversation was nearly over he asked, “How are you chaplain?” Then he wondered out loud who took care of the chaplains. He said something to the effect of “Chappy, you check in on people all the time, who checks in on you?”

That’s a good question; one I truly appreciate as it reveals his concern for me. It’s a question that I would do well to answer; in retrospect, I think I can answer his question, at least in part, from several perspectives.

First, I am a man of faith. I have surrendered my life to God. My faith informs my morals, values and lifestyle. I take comfort from the scriptures which provide a hope for this life and the next. I also find support from the worshipping community at our chapel. I sense God’s presence in the calm and holiness of the Mass and in the energy of praise in the contemporary gospel service and in the lyrics and harmonies of the hymns sung in the traditional service — songs that often transport me to the holy places of my childhood.

Second, I am a married man, so I find great solace in the wisdom and counsel of my wife. She is a consistent source of wise counsel; she knows when I’m blowing smoke and need an attitude adjustment, and she knows when I need to talk it out or take a day of leave.

Third, I am a military man, so I have resources available for me. A few of them are: Mental Health 623-856-7579, Military OneSource 800-342-9647 and the Military Family Life Consultant 623-238-0565. Supervisors and shirts, the Airmen and Family Readiness Center and many other agencies are here to help as well.

What about you? Are you aware of the resources that are available to you as a military member or dependent? Please take advantage of the many helping agencies and resources that are available for you and your family. Should you need to speak with your chaplain, please don’t hesitate to call us at 623-856-6211. We stand ready to provide pastoral counsel and a faith-based guidance to help you walk through the rough places of life.

Thanks for your service and sacrifice. Oh, and thanks Doc.