Suicide prevention and a Chaplain's call

There are some dismissing the connection between the spirit-faith and emotional pain, but considering every culture throughout history acknowledged the connection between God and man, it is hard to ignore it.

For a Christian it seems even harder to make peace with what happens in war but it is necessary to really heal since PTSD is not something that was inside of them as much as it was something that invaded them.

Can you honestly say when something bad happens you don't wonder what you did wrong? Even for a fraction of a second? Ever have regrets? This is part of what they are going through and for the most part, they feel as if they did something wrong. They need to know they are forgiven and be able to forgive themselves in order to heal. It is a personal issue, cutting in at different levels, no matter what faith they practice. While I do not agree with what has been happening in terms of religious proselytizing, the need of spiritual healing cannot be dismissed. It needs to be combined with mental health therapy and often medication. The whole veteran needs to be treated and helped to heal based on what their needs are.

“Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God,” said Lindsay who then cited, Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Serving soldiers

Story by 1st Lt. Casey Staheli

PRISTINA, Kosovo - All who join the military serve our great nation, but not all get to serve their fellow soldiers.

Maj. Michael Lindsay, senior chaplain, for soldiers of Multinational Battle Group East, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, is one of those soldiers who does. Lindsay provides Roman Catholic religious services and support here. In fact, Lindsay was serving soldiers before he ever joined the military, and as chance would have it, that is how the idea to join the military came about.

“I helped provide support for a veteran’s assistance workshop at the local armory, as a civilian pastor. After that I was asked to help counsel several soldiers on personal issues and one of the soldiers suggested I become a chaplain,” Lindsay said.

Up to that point Lindsay had never considered being a National Guard chaplain.

“After that was suggested, I thought wow, but I also thought I might be too old. I pondered it and became interested and it felt great that someone thought I could help,” said Lindsay. “I then thought more about it and decided to do it.”

Lindsay was raised in a family that promoted respect toward members of the military.

“My father served in WWII, my grandfather in WWI and I had an uncle who served during the Vietnam War,” said Lindsay.

It’s now been 10 years since Lindsay joined the military as a chaplain and has since provided chaplain support in White Sands, N.M., Fort Bliss, Texas, Fort Knox, Ky., and the Santa Fe Regional Reserve Training Institute in Santa Fe, N.M.

Here in Kosovo Lindsay leads the Catholic Mass, celebrates confessions and teaches Bible studies. In addition he counsels with soldiers who are dealing with personal or family issues. Lindsay also teaches classes on suicide prevention, relationship enhancement and interpersonal skills.
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Serving soldiers

One more note on forgiveness. Here's a story about a Colorado State Trooper and what happened after his partner was killed and he was wounded.


State Trooper Escapes Death, Shows Forgiveness

By Mark Martin
CBN News Reporter

For Colorado state trooper Scott Hinshaw, getting dressed everyday is a blessing after almost losing his life.

Amazingly, Hinshaw is ready for the popular Bicycle Tour of Colorado -- 463 miles of mountains and valleys.

Nearly four years ago, an interstate car accident left him with broken legs, post traumatic stress disorder and anger.

The teen driver killed his fellow trooper, Zach Templeton. He said he became filled with hate.

"I needed to get better. And part of getting better was forgiving," Hinshaw recalled.

Forgiveness launched him on the road to recovery.

Hinshaw has since thrown the first pitch at game four of the World Series, and even become the godfather of the young driver that hit him in the crash, Cody Loose.
read more of this here

State Trooper Escapes Death, Shows Forgiveness