Love's The Only House: Blood is Thicker Than Hierarchy

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Love's The Only House

The purpose of my web log is to be a connection to my children, extended family and friends. However, all are welcome! Verse of the year: Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Blood is Thicker Than Hierarchy

A soldier is required, obligated, expected - without question - stand at attention in front of a commanding officer when asked to. And that commander will stand at attention in front of his commanding officer when asked to do so. Required, obligated, expected - without question

That structure is vital in the military. Operations would fail without it. However, over there in Iraq - historically a land of political oppression, fighting and brutality - today the site of freedom, bravery and heroes... something else is going on. Right now, in this Christmas season, individual American troops are being who God made them, in and among all of the homogenous nature of the military.

My family - the Besherse family - is just that. We are family. We grew up close. Close in proximity and close in heart. If you haven't read the entry, entitled "Thanksgiving at the Besherse House", then you may not understand. We are strong, like Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Our three strand chord is family, faith and friendship. We are all blood; we are family. We believe in the saving grace of God; it's our faith. And we believe that love should never stop at the bloodline, accepting all into our inner circle to share in the love we have for one another; you are our friend.

Today in Iraq, an email went from a Major to a Private Second Class. For us non-military, it's kind of like the Governor of your state calling up the skinny high school freshman who just moved to the school in the middle of the year who has no friends, no family and isn't into the latest styles. Just another kid in the hall...

Here is the brief email:

Coreson,

My boss approved a coordination meeting with [undisclosed information] some time around 24 to 26 DEC. Don't be surprised if I ask you to put me up for a night or two and invite myself to Christmas dinner with you.
[Maj. Keith Besherse]

Jacob's Estatic Response:

OH MY GOSH, I am so happy! I would love nothing more than to have you here. That would be so cool. I already have a room ready in my tent for you. My mom is going to flip when she hears this. [He's right!]

So what will you be doing here? Do you think that you will be able to ... get a better look at what I do? I will show you the Vehicles that we roll in.

Wow, I am still so happy that you are coming. Well I better go now. See you soon sir.

Love, a bight soldier
PV2 Coreson

Jacob is 19 years old. He's always been fascinated with the military and has followed his second cousin's career as he has heard his momma brag about him over the years. Maj. Keith Besherse has served in the military for 16 years and is an aviation officer with the G3/4/5 Movements PR and A2C2 25 Infantry Division - recently in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, now in Iraq north of Baghdad, and is qualified to fly the UH-1 Huey, OH-58A/C Scout and the UH-60 Blackhawk. He is stationed out of Hawaii, where he lives with his wife and son. Jacob has a lot to admire in this relative. In sharp contrast, this is Jacob's first excursion away from home.

Jacob has not joined the military as a support person; hauling supplies, cooking, etc. He's in there. Doing the hard work. As Maj. Keith said about the enemy's efforts to destroy, "We are taking that capability away from him one engagement at a

time." The word "engagement" is literally Jacob, and the troops he is working with, getting in there and doing the work it takes to get the problem solved. .

I have posted the picture to the right before on this blog. But I cropped out a couple things. One, I cropped out that gun Jacob's holding. A Vietnam war vet told me, "You'd better be glad he has that and not just a sling-shot or something." I never thought of it that way. But the other thing I cropped out is Jacob's buddy to his left. They'll be going out there together putting their own life on the line for the other - and probably by now have done just that. You don't have to be blood to be accepted and to be one worth saving.
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I'm thanking God this holiday season for sending Jesus to save me from my own messes. I'm thanking God this holiday season for my family. My cousin Maj. Keith Besherse has blessed me in ways I could never repay by taking the time to look Jacob up and to let him know he has connection. And I'm thanking God this holiday season for that buddy of Jacob's standing next to him - praying for his wisdom and safety, and for his momma and his family - whomever and wherever they may be - that they too may be blessed like I am; with faith, family and friends of their own.

I pray blessings on all the troops overseas. Merry Christmas, each and every one of you.

Labels: Jacob, Keith, Military

posted by Kim Coreson @ 10:26 PM

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