I was moved by a Washington Post article printed on Memorial Day concerning a subject rarely discussed: who helps military chaplains cope with the daily stress of listening to, and counseling soldiers, sailors, marines and Coast Guard members suffering from the emotional ravages of war?
Until reading this article, I had thought little about the men and women who minister to others before, during and after combat. The warriors deserve the attention, not the chaplains, right? Not so.
In this eye-opening story by Michelle Boorstein, she observed:
“Perhaps the roughest parts of war—mortality, suffering, the seeming randomness of life—are supposed to be a chaplain’s bread and butter, their expertise. The 5,000 active-duty men and women often called ‘Chaps’ are the ones soldiers seek at all hours, under strict confidentiality, to share their darkest acts, doubts and fears—even the suicidal thoughts that could end their military careers. And yet chaplains experience post-traumatic stress, too, while carrying out their unique mission to shore up others.”
One of the casualties of war, according to the article, is a chaplain’s loss of faith, a diminished view of God amid the physical and mental destruction of war. Chaplains seek God to heal the wounds, often invisible, of soldiers in urgent need of comfort and understanding.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is most usually associated with men and women who have fought and served in war, experiencing the death or maiming of close friends and observing the effect of war on non-combatants. But, PTSD bedevils chaplains too. Despite their spiritual training and deep faith in God, they are not immune from emotional turmoil.
Who shepherds the shepherds? Who listens to them? Who comforts them in time of stress?
I’ve thought a bit about these questions in the past, particularly in the civilian world in the midst of domestic emergencies, both natural and man-made. When clergy of all faiths respond to the needs of firefighters, police and medical personnel—not to speak of families shaken by the senseless death of loved ones during shootings that have occurred all too frequently in Orlando, FL, Charleston, SC, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and so many other places — I wonder about the impact of these unspeakable tragedies on those often asked to makes sense of the senseless.
If not first on the scene, clergy are not far behind. Their mission is immediate: offer succor to people who have reason to question the role of God in horrific human acts of violence. They must deal with pain and suffering that must seem unimaginable. They must deal with anger and disillusionment. And, yes, they must confront loss of faith.
Just two paragraphs ago, I asked: Who shepherds the shepherds?
Military chaplains and civilian clergy are our anchors, our safe and secure refuges when the world seems to be falling apart. However, we need to check their emotional pulses too. We need to offer comfort in time of stress. We can’t expect these invaluable people to heal themselves alone, despite their abiding faith.
According to the Post article, the military is beginning to offer programs for caregivers and chaplains coping with post-traumatic stress. The Army developed a program called Combat Military Ministry to help chaplains and their assistants deal with stress.
I’m pleased that the military is paying attention to its spiritual warriors, often neglected in the continuous and critical battle to help combat veterans cope with mind-numbing stress. I hope that our civilian clergy, engaged far too often in the aftermath of terrible acts of violence in our fragile nation, will receive sustenance in dealing with their suffering and stress.
Our medical and religious caregivers perform daily acts of heroism. We can thank them with emotional support.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
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