The 80’s country music star Crystal Gayle hit close to the top of the charts in 1982 with her song “Livin’ in These Troubled Times.” The third stanza cries out, “Brings you down to buy a paper/ If you read between the lines/ No one seems to have the answer/ To living in these troubled times.” It’s been three decades since Gayle’s troubled times, and I think it’s safe to say times are still pretty troubled!
It seems from our nation’s earliest moments there have been challenges and opposition. On June 12, 1775 — just two months after Paul Revere’s famous ride — the Continental Congress convened to discuss the precarious and dangerous situation. Already in the throes of battle, this congress showed resolute resiliency as members sat together in deliberation. From this congress blossomed a Proclamation for a Day of Fasting and Prayer. The language of this proclamation speaks volumes about the resiliency, commitment and humility of our nation’s founders:
“This congress, therefore, considering the present critical, alarming, and calamitous state of these Colonies, do earnestly recommend that, Thursday, the twentieth day of July next, be observed … as a day of publick humiliation, fasting and prayer … and offer up our joint supplications to the all-wise, omnipotent, and merciful Disposer of all events; humbly beseeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our present calamities, (and) to avert those desolating judgments with which we are threatened …” (Provincial papers: documents and records relating to the province of New Hampshire, from the earliest period of its settlement: 1623- [1776], Volume 7 (Google eBook)
Troubled times? Absolutely! And from those troubled times arose a national resiliency born in the spiritual observance of humble prayer. Perhaps no other spiritual practice in existence spans the universality of humankind like prayer. For thousands of years people of all faiths have sought connection with the Divine through this contemplative exercise, and it is no different today. With our current woes of force shaping, civilian job cuts, slumping economy, rising prices for everyday commodities, family stressors, etc., many of us are reaching for help and presence from a power greater than our own. Maybe we’re not so different from our founding fathers.
Most recently we here in the Air Force community have honed in on what it means to be resilient in troubled times. In addition to the physical, mental and social domains, healthy practices within the spiritual realm can offer much needed strength, sustainment and added resiliency through the darker moments of life we all experience. On Thursday, Feb. 2, many from Team Hill will have the opportunity to join together for breakfast, reflection and prayer at the yearly sponsored National Prayer Breakfast. This year’s guest speaker is retired Gen. Robert C. Oaks, the former commander over all allied air forces in central Europe. In addition to his military service, the general has had a full and important tenure of ecclesiastical service within his own church. Harnessing his extensive career and ministerial experience, he will share a message applicable to all who face the challenges of our time.
So, like our country’s great founders, we find ourselves entrenched in troubled times. It is with gratitude that we gather for events such as the National Prayer Breakfast, and our hope is that it may be a time of bolstering our corporate unity and ultimately, our spiritual wellness and resiliency.
