Deployment vs. Pregnancy:
Deployment could be likened to a pregnancy. Before a woman gets pregnant she is often excited to become pregnant and anxiously awaits the positive test. Before a deployment, service members anxiously await getting to their destination so they can serve. Once the initial joy of pregnancy is over then the drudgery sets in: the bloating, the difficulty sleeping, too many trips to the bathroom, cravings etc. In a deployment the initial excitement and novelty usually wears off pretty quickly as well. There is difficulty sleeping, new food, new beds, walking to showers, alarm reds, wearing heavy protective gear even to the bathroom and cravings of food from home. As the expected time of birth approaches, sleep is difficult, bathroom trips are frequent, legs become numb from just lying on one’s back and expressions like: “I wish I would just have this baby already. I am ready to stop being pregnant.” can be heard. As we near then end of our deployment we are constantly asking what is the news about our replacements, when are they arriving, when are we leaving, we wonder if we might be one of the those stories where the person who is leaving in a week, day or hour gets injured or worse yet killed just before they would have gone home. We are ready to be done being deployed. Just as a pregnant mother longs to hold their new baby, we long to hold our loved ones. Then the birth occurs and through much pain, screaming, crying, and statements of never again a baby makes it through a passage that few would have ever thought could have passed a baby’s shoulders. The baby is now in the mother’s arms and carried out of the hospital. As days and weeks pass and she receives the first smile from her precious gift, the memory of the pain and frequent trips to the bathroom starts to fade and the thought of having another baby may be considered.
This being my second deployment, I have relived many of the tragedies, hurts, and annoyances that had faded from my memory after my first time here. The joy I have now is the anticipation of seeing my wife, son, family and friends. What I carry home from the hospital is the honor of having the privilege of taking care of very brave armed service members and innocent Iraqi children. I also carry some of the most horrible images of war one could imagine, which may hide in the corners of my mind, but will probably never leave.
There is a beautiful verse in Peter that applies to all trials and difficult situations and it has encouraged me through many dark times.
“After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10
Solis Deo Gloria
More thoughts to come,
Duke
Posted by Tim at May 16, 2007 08:34 PM
