Hello Everyone, This is Chaplain Sung Kim. I am Deputy CMD CH in the 63d Readiness Division. I pray you are well.
Charles R. Swindoll says, “Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, money, circumstances, than failures and success, than what other people think, say, or do. The remarkable thing is I have a choice every day of what my attitude will be. I cannot change my past. I cannot change the actions of others. I cannot change the inevitable. The only thing I can change is attitude. Life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it.”
I have known people who were very average in intelligence and ability, but were great successes. Some complained about what was wrong, and others put forth the effort to make things right. Some had faith in God, and others had faith in nothing.
If we believe that our attitude is more important than facts and we can change our attitude, I would like to say this morning, “Be authentic.” In other words, be real. Be yourself.
Authenticity is an attitude of honesty and humility. Don’t try to be someone you are not. Don’t wear a mask around others. Be the same person in public and private. Some people were living two different lives. They were not authentic. It would have been far better for them to talk openly about their struggles, and admit their weaknesses, rather than to pretend everything was great.
It takes courage to be authentic. Saint Paul writes that in his wonderful discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” This is the model for what it means to live in Christian community.
During counseling my Soldiers, when they open up to me about their struggles and mistakes in their lives, I don’t react with shock and shame. We chaplains are honored that someone has trusted us at a very deep level, and we seek to be an encourager and a listener. That is why we come together, to confess our sins, to encourage and strengthen each other — to let people know that they are not alone. We are a family and we support each other.
Do you believe good or evil is winning the day?
An elderly Cherokee man was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A fight is going on inside of me; it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resent-ment, and etc. The other wolf is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generos-ity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person too." They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee replied simply, "The one you feed."
If you believe evil is winning then you are saying that evil is stronger than good and the devil is more powerful than God. Christ has overcome the world. Christ brought the kingdom of God into the world. You cannot stop the kingdom of God any more than you can stop the tide or the rising of the sun.
As Christians, we are full of anticipation and excitement about what God is doing. Christians are people of hope. For us, sorrow is always a temporary emotion, and joy is the norm.
The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” In fact, a positive attitude and cheerful spirit is better than any medication you can take.
Have a blessed day! Blood and Fire!
Here is the direct email and phone number for anyone requesting support from the 63d RD Chaplain office,
usarmy.usarc.63-rsc.list.chaplain-all-users@mail.mil
650-526-9668