Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Overcoming Adversity: From Homeless to Adjutant General Maryland National Guard

Overcoming Adversity: From Homeless to Adjutant General Maryland National Guard


The information contained in this post came from an article on Fortune.com and the Maryland Army National Guard website.

The picture above is Brigadier General Linda Singh on the day her promotion was announced with outgoing Adjutant General, Major General James Adkins.

"The back story of many successful leaders is heart break, sleepless nights and overcoming adversity."  Brigadier General Linda Singh 


Those of you who know me or read my blog regularly know I just love a great story about overcoming adversity and today (December 23, 2014) when Maryland's new Governor Elect announced his appointment of Brigadier General Linda Singh as the new Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard I knew I had to write about it.  General Singh's story is a compelling one and one that I am sure will impress everyone who reads it. 

When you think of a successful Army General you normally do not think of someone who as a teenager was a high school drop out and homeless, but that is General Singh's story.

As a child she suffered abuse at the hands of relatives and after an argument with her mother when she was 15 was asked to leave home and she did.  She made ends meet working at a Burger King and a pretzel stand in Frederick, Maryland.  She rented a room for $65 a month but eventually she could not even afford that.  Having to give up her room she began to sleep on the porches of friends' homes or in the office of the pretzel stand.  Initially she was able to maintain good grades and play varsity basketball but eventually the stress if being homeless took it's toll.  Her grades drop and she did not have the money to take the SAT required for college admission so she dropped out of  high school.

Then one day she spotted a recruiting stand for the Maryland National Guard.  She decided to join but she was only 17 and had to get her parents permission.  She eventually persuaded them and joined the Maryland National Guard on June 3, 1981. This was a life changing decision for "young" Linda Singh.

She served as an enlisted member of the Guard prior to her being commissioned in 1991.  She began working her way up the commissioned ranks.  She served in Kosovo from July, 2006 to October, 2007 and more recently in Afghanistan from September, 2011 until July, 2012.  She was then promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and in the fall of this year was tapped by outgoing Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to serve as Assistant Adjutant General for the Maryland Army National Guard.  Just a few short months later the incoming Governor, Larry Hogan recognized her talent and nominated her for the top job, she will now serve as the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard.

The National Guard is not General Singh's only career.   While serving in leadership in the Guard she was working her way up in a civilian career as well.  She is a Managing Director for Accenture, a large consulting firm.

General Singh is a great role model for young people facing adversity.  She proves that you do not have to accept adversity.  You can fight back and prove that you are better than that.  You can use the gifts and talents that God has given you and rise above any adversity you face.  Congratulations General and thank you for being a role model.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Death & Dying: My View





In my chosen profession I am with people as they prepare for death and with families after they lose a loved one.  Often I hear "How can you do that?"  "Isn't it depressing?"  and my answer is no, in fact I find it rewarding and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve in this manner.

My first experience with death was difficult.  I occurred nine days before my ninth birthday.  I was given the news no child wants to hear.  My dad had died.  It was not totally unexpected.  He had been critically ill for six weeks and mom had been preparing my brother and I for the news she knew was coming, daddy would not be coming home from the hospital. While the news was sad and I was overcome with grief  I did find comfort in the words she used and the ones she didn't use in giving us the news.  I think the way she told us prepared me for this special work God had planned for me.

It was a Monday afternoon May 22, 1967.  As the bus drove by our house to drop us off at the bus stop I immediately knew this was not going to be a normal day.  I saw the cars of relatives and friends in the driveway and lining the street near the house.  As we entered the house all eyes turned towards us and the silence noticeable.  One of my relatives, I can't remember which one, hugged us and took us to our mom who was seated in the "Kings Chair".  We sat on her lap and she explained that God only loans people to us, some for a very long time and others for a very short time and that our dad was only loaned to us for a very short time.

With those words she told us that life on this earth is limited and death is a reality of life.  A sad reality but none the less a reality.  But what she did not say was just as powerful.  She never tried to offer an explanation as  to why God only loans some to us for a short time.  That was smart as even the bible does not explain why God chooses to call people home when He does. I have since learned that God has a plan and knows far more than you and I.  I trust in His plan and accept it even when it hurts and causes me pain. But how I came to understand and accept that is another story.

Over the years I had a yearning to study the bible and find out more about our earthly death and what happens after we leave this earth.  The verse that I find the most comforting and hopeful is the Gospel of John, Chapter 14: 1-6 (ESV).

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."



These verses contain three promises.  Here is my understanding of the promises.

First, that there is more than enough room for each of us in heaven.  When it comes time for God to call our name we do not have to worry about being greeted by a “No Vacancy” sign.  Our reservation was made when Jesus died on the cross, all we have to do is be willing to accept His wonderful gift.  When I think of this promise I am reminded of the old Motel Six commercial where Tom Bodett promises to leave a light on for us.  I like to think there is a light at the gates of heaven that awaits us.  

Now the second promise is amazing to me.  Jesus promises to prepare a place for us.  I am not sure about you but I have never had a place prepared especially for me.  I remember buying my first house, it was nice house but other than getting to decide if I wanted crown molding and a fireplace the house was pretty much like the other houses in the neighborhood. It was not prepared especially for me.  Now we have the Son of God, who in his earthly life was a carpenter by trade, promising to prepare a special place just for us. I believe Jesus was a carpenter to let us know that God creates beautiful and wonderful things.  Earlier in my pastoral career I would try paint a picture of what we may expect our eternal home to be like but then I realized that I am limited by my earthly vocabulary and we are all limited by our earthly imaginations.  We cannot possibly describe or imagine the majesty of our eternal home.   What we do know is that there is no suffering, no pain and no word that means goodbye.

 

The final and in my opinion the most comforting promise is that when God calls our name that Jesus will come and take us there himself.  I have had the honor to be with people during their final hours and it is not unusual for them to say “it is time”, “I’m ready” or “they are here”.  In John Ramsey’s book “The Other Side of Suffering” he writes of the death of his wife Patsy.  She was in a coma, she opened her eyes and had a wondrous expression on her face as if she was seeing something magnificent.  She then closed her eyes and died. I believe she opened her eyes to see our Savior.   This story and my experiences is proof to me that Jesus keeps His promise. We can find comfort in knowing that when God called our name, we will not be alone but that we have the opportunity to be in the comforting and loving arms of Jesus.

Since I was told of my dad's death so many years ago I have come to learn that death is a fact of life that must be embraced. 

I believe that death is a temporary separation and we all have the opportunity to be reunited in Heaven. I tell my children that when it comes time for me to be called home it is ok to be sad because they will miss me but do not cry for me as I will be in a place where there is no suffering, no pain and no word that mean goodbye. 

 I am not rushing death as I still want to be around to see my daughter marry and know all of my grandchildren but whenever my time comes it will be without regret or sadness and with joy as  I will finally meet my two brothers who past before I was born and be reunited with my loved ones who went before me. From my perspective it will be a time to celebrate.  Its all in God's time not mine.





Thursday, September 11, 2014

September 11, 2001: Let Us Never Forget


       September 11, 2001: Let Us Never Forget



September 11, 2001 no matter where you where or what you were doing when you heard of the horrific events of that morning, I am certain that your world, like my world stopped turning for at least a few minutes.

This was the day that thousands of American lives were lost on our own soil by a terrorist attack. 

I was in the United States District Court House in Baltimore with a client for a hearing. The Judge was called from the bench, when he returned he announced all cases would be continued and told us to leave the courthouse with no further explanation.

As I left the courthouse I saw armed U.S. Marshals surrounding the building.  It was then I heard of the attack on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.  My first thoughts went to my brother who is a firefighter on Long Island.  I tried to reach him on my cell phone and all lines were busy.  I kept trying while I walked back to my office. 

When I arrived at my office, my secretary informed me the Pentagon had been hit.  I responded with a very solemn "we're at war" and walked quietly to my office. 

I closed my doors and prayed the most sincere prayer of my life to let me get through and speak to my brother. I picked up my phone and tried one more time.  Miraculously he picked up on the first ring.  He was on an engine responding to Ground Zero. When he arrived at the scene his company was assigned to work as a rescue and recovery team.  He was one of the lucky ones, he survived without physical injury.  Many others were not so lucky on that day.  God blessed me and my family.  He kept a hedge of angels around us and I am forever grateful for that protection.

I remember leaving my office going to be with my daughter and former wife, whose husband worked for the airlines and was flying that day.  He was safe.  I remember speaking to my son who was in college.  All of a sudden I realized how important family was.  How blessed my family was and how thankful I was that God answered my prayer and let me speak to my brother while he was responding to this tragedy. 

What I also remember is what happened in the hours, days, weeks and months following the attacks.  Neighbors were helping neighbors, many families were proudly flying their flags, people flocked to churches to pray together.   

I remember many of the people I worked with going to church together on the National Day of Prayer.  No matter our faith we all went together in solidarity to the Basilica in Baltimore.  The events of September 11, 2001 brought out a unity and love I have never seen before or since.  An attack that was meant to divide us, united us.

Sadly, a mere thirteen years later many have forgotten that day.  It saddened me to read of a Fire Chief suspending firefighters for refusing to remove American flag decals from their lockers; to read of a Lt. Colonel who was not allowed in his daughter’s High School because his uniform might offend students.  Both of these situations have been corrected but how, just 13 years after our country was so united could they have occurred in the first place.   It’s not only our flag and our military that  are no longer being respected but efforts are being made to remove God from every component of our society.  Just 13 years after most Americans flocked to churches in unity.  Please today join me in prayer to remember those touched by 9/11 and for the restoration of faith and patriotism in our country.  For me there is nothing more important than God, Family and Country.  May God Bless America and all of our families.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

A Heroine of the Bible: Abigail, 1 Samuel 25



A Heroine of the Bible: Abigail, 1 Samuel 25



My small group just recently completed a study on 1 Samuel.  During the course of this study I was struck with the humility Abigail demonstrated in 1 Samuel 25. Before we discuss the humility exhibited by Abigail I will provide some background for those not familiar with first Samuel.

1 Samuel is a narrative of the transition from the period of Judges in Israel to Kings.  Samuel was the last of the Judges and a Prophet.  The narrative documents the rise of Saul as Israel’s first King, his falling into disfavor with God and the surprising selection of a young shepherd boy named David to eventually succeed him as King.

The most famous story in first Samuel can be found in1 Samuel 17  which tells how David, armed only with a sling shot and 5 stones, killed Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior. This accomplishment brings young David great acclaim and fame.

There are three major characters in 1 Samuel 25.  They are David, the future King, Nabal, a wealthy man known for his evil & wicked nature and Nabal’s wife, Abigail.   Abigail is an intelligent yet humble woman.

While Nabal’s shepherds were tending his flock, David’s men protected them and treated them fairly.  When David learned that Nabal was shearing his sheep he asked his men to approach him politely and in David’s name ask for what Nabal thought would be fair compensation.  David’s men went and did as they were asked and when they reached Nabal said “Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.  I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel.  Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.”

Instead of being grateful to David and his men, Nabal responded by hurling insults at them.  When David heard this he and four hundred of his men took up swords with the intent of killing Nabal and his men.

One of Nabal’s servants fearing David’s reaction told Abigail what had transpired.  She immediately realized their fate if she did not act quickly.
She took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys and headed to meet David.  When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.  She fell at his feet took responsibility, presented the offering and asked forgiveness.

David was gracious.  He accepted the offering and did not kill Nabal and his men.

Here we see a heroine.  Abigail took responsibility for something she did not do, made an offering and sought forgiveness.  She put others above herself.  Because of her actions the lives of many innocent were saved. Shortly, thereafter Nabal died. 

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