I have been a chaplain with the Veterans Health Administration (VA) for ten years. I’m not a veteran myself, but I have friends and family members who have served and are serving in various branches of the military. In my time at the VA — first as a trainee and now as a board certified chaplain and chaplain educator — I have cared for numerous veterans struggling to connect their faith with their service, military with civilian lives.
Some people struggle with post-traumatic stress; others with moral injury. Some are part of a religious community; others stopped believing in God after what they’d seen or done. Still others would like to find a place to call their spiritual home — but they might have trouble with crowds. Or they’re tired of explaining why they have a service dog. Or they’ve been asked one too many times, “did you ever shoot anyone?” Or they’ve been told one too many times, “thank you for your service,” and felt that it was as sincere as a “God bless you” after a sneeze.
Again, I’m not a veteran. I work in the VA, but I’m a civilian. I’ll always be a bit on-the-outside-looking-in — and that’s okay. I’ve also made some of those same conversational blunders I describe above. And that’s okay, too. What our veterans need — what each of us needs — is a space to have real conversations: about what hurts, about what healing looks like. Real talk about how we sometimes hurt each other as we’re healing or trying to be helpful. That’s real community, being part of the Body of Christ.
As a member of Nativity, I’m hoping our congregation can become the kind of community that is willing to have these real conversations together. I’d love it if veterans, service members, and family members could find a home for dialogue and engagement: even if they never attend a worship service.
Will you help me explore what this might look like? If you feel led to explore this journey with me, I invite you to participate in one of the upcoming Veterans@Nativity coffee hours, or the four-part formation series we’ll be hosting later this Spring. All are welcome! In fact, that’s what it’s all about.
Grace and Peace,
— Ryan Parker
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For more information about Veterans@Nativity: Email Ryan Parker
Upcoming Veterans@Nativity Coffee Hours (after the 10:30 service in Corlett Hall):
- February 12, 2023
- June 11, 2023
- September 10, 2023
- November 12, 2023