Field devotional, Senior Military Chaplain of the Army Sanna Timonen
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible pericope for today is from the Psalm 91: 1-4, 11-12 (RSV):
”He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord: ’My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions and under his wings you will find refuge. – For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
In what do you trust? Relying on just ourselves and our own wherewithal fails us at times, for at some point all of us need another person to rely on. This is part of life, and particularly so when undertaking military training and drilling relying on mates for cover. I hope that while in service, and when in dire straits, soldiers may rely on their mates at the barracks, on the support network at the garrison, on friends or family back at home, and get support. I believe that many difficulties that we face will transform into resources of inner strength providing confidence in coping and in the future.
Being supported and consoled enables us to support and understand others in return, or to scaffold structures that are in place to ensure wellbeing. Therefore, it is of considerable importance that everybody is prepared to recognise another person in need of help, to side with the weak, and to ensure that everybody gets to be seen and heard. It is also vital that we acknowledge the children and youth of today, and listen to what they have to say. Occasionally, this requires that we look beyond any insecurities or chants. Earning the trust of youngsters and listening to their thoughts will be worth it. The youth of today will be the future defenders of our land, since the defence of Finland remains the responsibility of Finns, and everybody is responsible for national defence. When young people view that our land, people and society are worth defending, and when they acquire skills for developing their potential with trustworthy grownups, our nation continues to sustain the will to defend and strong resilience, the ability to overcome disappointments in the future as well.
In the Bible Jesus advises us to “love your neighbour as yourself”. This means serving, being considerate to, and encouraging others. The smallest deed on an ordinary day may make the person’s day and help them to carry on. Being loved enables us to love others.
When something is dear and of importance to us, we are ready to defend it even when having to get involved and give for the common good. In line with the generations before us, we as soldiers do our daily share to build our independent land and safeguard peace together with other authorities. Completing the liability for military service may be viewed as love for the fatherland and for those whom we want to defend.
For more than a hundred years, taking the military oath or affirmation has involved the pledge to complete the set mission for as long as capable. The pledge is neither small nor easy considering that we do not know what the future entails. And yet this pledge commits a number of us now as it will others in the future. We often have more strength than we think we do. The Psalmist says that he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High trusts in God believing that God in his benevolent providence safeguards his life. This faith provides steadfast security. Trusting in God means having faith in God who provides the strength for completing even a difficult mission. When our own strength withers, we are not left alone but rather God carries us further.
Let us pray:
Holy, Almighty God.
Bless the land beneath our feet,
bless the paths that we take,
bless what we long for.
Almighty God, provide for us,
embrace our dearest and nearest.
Please give us a forgiving mindset and warm heart.
Please provide us with helping hands.
In your providence we trust our precious Finland, ourselves, and our life.
Amen.
Hymn 577, the first and second verse.
