So I can successfully mark day one off the books. It’s done and I am very happy about that. Now, I have received some constructive opposition to some of my earlier status updates (on Facebook) and I thought I’d elaborate on things a little bit.
For those that are unaware of my current status, I am at the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Biloxi, Mississippi. I did not want to come here. I had no desire to take this course. It is, however, a requirement if one wants to proceed to the next rank (Master Sergeant). So here I am, sitting in an okay “dorm” room (without a roommate – yay God) contemplating what I’m going to do while I’m here. I am convinced that my time at the actual Academy will have its ups and downs and if all the rumors I’ve heard from [100% of] former pupils are remotely true, I will have wasted 5 ½ weeks of my life here. But the cool thing is that there is so much more to do – and see – in Biloxi, Mississippi. I already made a commitment before I left North Dakota that I wanted to help two people/families while I’m here. I don’t have a whole lot of money to give, but I have a lot of prayers, comfort, compassion, and labor to give.
Biloxi and the Gulfport area were hit very hard during Hurricane Katrina. People are still trying to put their homes – and lives – back together. So I am calling this expenses paid trip to a 5 ½ week course a ‘mission opportunity’. The simple fact is that one random act of kindness will have the ripple effect. If you do one kind thing to someone, they will remember that, and when an opportunity presents itself, they will show someone else a random act of kindness. There’s no end to what can happen – it’s a ripple effect!
I don’t have any idea how I’m going to find someone to help, but my plan is to just drive around and look. I’ll ask my instructors where it got hit pretty hard and will head that way. Thankfully I still have some “Eternal Life” tracks the glove box in my truck, so I’ll be able to pass those out to those I come in contact with while on my quest to help. I wonder if it will be as easy as it sounds.
I’ll be honest…I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what kind of response I’ll get from people. I don’t know if the people that I choose will be too proud to accept the help that I offer or if they will welcome the relief. It is my hope and prayer that it is the latter.
So, what’s the morale of today’s story? As a Christ follower, it is our responsibility to help those in need. Leviticus 25:35-37 tells us to that we are to help those that cannot help themselves. James 4:17 tells us that if we neglect to do good that we know needs to be done, we have sinned. Let’s face the real truth about this. People need our help and we are commanded by our Savior to give those people the help they need. Doing a random act of kindness not only helps (mentally, physically, spiritually) those that you do help, but it renews and refreshes your energy to your Christian faith.
Yes, I would rather be in North Dakota with my family enjoying the crazy 50°+ weather, but I’m also needed here. I’m here for a reason other than going to the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. I’m here to obey God’s call to help those who cannot currently help themselves. Like I said before, you don’t need to give money or goods. Time is a precious thing that many people just don’t have enough of. So as you go do your thing this week and weekend, I encourage you to take a couple hours and find someone that needs your help – it could be as simple as mowing someone’s lawn for them.
His Servant,
Jeremy
For those that are unaware of my current status, I am at the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Biloxi, Mississippi. I did not want to come here. I had no desire to take this course. It is, however, a requirement if one wants to proceed to the next rank (Master Sergeant). So here I am, sitting in an okay “dorm” room (without a roommate – yay God) contemplating what I’m going to do while I’m here. I am convinced that my time at the actual Academy will have its ups and downs and if all the rumors I’ve heard from [100% of] former pupils are remotely true, I will have wasted 5 ½ weeks of my life here. But the cool thing is that there is so much more to do – and see – in Biloxi, Mississippi. I already made a commitment before I left North Dakota that I wanted to help two people/families while I’m here. I don’t have a whole lot of money to give, but I have a lot of prayers, comfort, compassion, and labor to give.
Biloxi and the Gulfport area were hit very hard during Hurricane Katrina. People are still trying to put their homes – and lives – back together. So I am calling this expenses paid trip to a 5 ½ week course a ‘mission opportunity’. The simple fact is that one random act of kindness will have the ripple effect. If you do one kind thing to someone, they will remember that, and when an opportunity presents itself, they will show someone else a random act of kindness. There’s no end to what can happen – it’s a ripple effect!
I don’t have any idea how I’m going to find someone to help, but my plan is to just drive around and look. I’ll ask my instructors where it got hit pretty hard and will head that way. Thankfully I still have some “Eternal Life” tracks the glove box in my truck, so I’ll be able to pass those out to those I come in contact with while on my quest to help. I wonder if it will be as easy as it sounds.
I’ll be honest…I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what kind of response I’ll get from people. I don’t know if the people that I choose will be too proud to accept the help that I offer or if they will welcome the relief. It is my hope and prayer that it is the latter.
So, what’s the morale of today’s story? As a Christ follower, it is our responsibility to help those in need. Leviticus 25:35-37 tells us to that we are to help those that cannot help themselves. James 4:17 tells us that if we neglect to do good that we know needs to be done, we have sinned. Let’s face the real truth about this. People need our help and we are commanded by our Savior to give those people the help they need. Doing a random act of kindness not only helps (mentally, physically, spiritually) those that you do help, but it renews and refreshes your energy to your Christian faith.
Yes, I would rather be in North Dakota with my family enjoying the crazy 50°+ weather, but I’m also needed here. I’m here for a reason other than going to the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. I’m here to obey God’s call to help those who cannot currently help themselves. Like I said before, you don’t need to give money or goods. Time is a precious thing that many people just don’t have enough of. So as you go do your thing this week and weekend, I encourage you to take a couple hours and find someone that needs your help – it could be as simple as mowing someone’s lawn for them.
His Servant,
Jeremy