Saying Captain America is my favorite superhero is a huge thing. I love my superheros, and there are so many great ones. Spider-man was my favorite growing up. The web-slinger is a superhero with a great wit and humble beginnings. He would get the bad guys, crack a couple jokes, and save the day. As I grew up, Iron Man jumped into the second place position with his cocky attitude and sarcasm to boot. Peter Parker and Tony Stark were my favorites because when everything was falling apart around them, they brought in some humor to lighten the mood. This was something I truly admired. Composure, even in the darkest of times. Spider-man was my favorite superhero for many, many years as a result. I grew up watching his 90's cartoon version with my mom.
But wit and humor only go so far. A lot of times something more is needed. Any person with powers can be good. Sometimes it takes a greater cause to be great. Many superheroes fight for something great. Steve Rogers fights for something greater than all. He fights for the least of these. Why? He was your average Christian kid who grew up to be drafted for the war. He was picked to be a part of Project: Rebirth. The rest is history. He becomes the super soldier known as Captain America and fights alongside American troops in World War II. He fights for what is right, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to save lives, even down to sacrificing his own life. He crashes the plane into the arctic waters to prevent harm coming to others. He doesn't die, but he sacrificed the life he had for all. He fights for the least of these, because that is what he believes God has called him to do. He has a sense of patriotism that goes beyond any other. One that I hope I will be able to live up to Captain America someday.
"What do you mean you hope you live up to Captain America? He's a superhero. That's impossible." That's not quite what I meant. I meant being able to retain my faith as I serve my country and the people in it. I have recently raised my right hand and swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This was a huge step for me. It means that I have decided to put the lives and the well-being of the American people above my own. It means that I now live for the two things for which I have wanted to live for a while. I am living for God and Country. In my opinion, the two greatest things I could live for.
I ship out to field training for the Air Force on the 20th early morning and I couldn't be more anxious. I've rolled, unrolled, and re-rolled my socks over and over. A full month of getting shouted at is not quite how I wanted to spend the first half of my summer. A couple things will get me through it.
Number one: God. In many ways, shapes, and forms. I plan to spend time trying to get into the word intentionally. Joshua 1:9 hanging around my neck is a constant reminder to not be afraid. No one dies from this. It's a month of discomfort, and I'll be all the better for it. I will pray for the Lord to give me the strength to get through this. Also, church on Sundays will be a nice respite, and a place for me to get back into His presence intentionally.
Number two: friends. I have so many friends who have been constant encouragement to me leading up to field training. I have received nothing but words of affirmation from fellow camp counselors, life-long friends, fellow ROTC flightmates, and members of my campus ministry. I have found that when I am stressed out the most, my friends come through for me. So many have already told me that they will be writing to me while I'm away that I'm sure I'll get through this in nothing flat.
Number three: Camp. 16 June, I will be home. 21 June, I will be loving those kids to the best of my ability. I have been given the opportunity to return to Camp Tecumseh to be a resident counselor for the second summer in a row, and I could not be more excited. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. The marshmallows in the Lucky Charms summer.
These three things will help me to keep my head down and make it through this month of summer heat in Alabama and Mississippi. I can't wait to get down there because that means that I have less than a month until I'm back.
Captain America stands up for what is right. Field Training is a step toward me being able to do my best to serve others.
Ultimately, when it comes down to it, God is first, then country.
