Chaplaincy has a unique role within the wider realm of ministry. It is unique because the chaplain is constantly navigating being pastoral, while also functioning as a member of the organization to which he or she belongs. For myself, as an Army Chaplain, I do the work of ministry, but I also must be a professional soldier. For instance, I am required to maintain a certain level of fitness, and I fall within a rank structure, among other “soldiery” things. It is like becoming a missionary; a chaplain must learn his organization’s culture so he can minister effectively within it. This transition can be jarring, and the continual balance of ministering within a non-church organization can be especially challenging for some. Unlike church ministry, much of chaplaincy is outside of the chaplain’s control.
Grow Where You Are Planted
There is a common proverb found in chaplaincy circles that speaks to this predicament. The proverb advises, “Grow where you are planted.” This was the best advice offered to me as a young chaplain. When this advice is given to young Army chaplains, it is typically in reference to a chaplain’s given unit assignment or duty location. In all honesty, there are some units and locations that all chaplains want, and others they all avoid. Everyone wants to be chaplain for the Special Forces or Rangers, but there are many less glamorous units that chaplains would rather avoid. Likewise, everyone wants to be a chaplain stationed in Hawaii—it’s like a three-year paid vacation to paradise! Fort Polk, Louisiana, on the other hand, is commonly understood to be a duty location to avoid; soldiers will jokingly ask, “Who did you make mad to get Fort Polk as your duty station?!” The advice to grow where one is planted, offered to help young chaplains survive the military life, transcends chaplaincy and offers wisdom for Christ followers in everyday life, too. Let me explain.
The proverb, “Grow where you are planted,” acknowledges something that we often forget: God appoints us and empowers us to make a difference in this world, and he will sometimes put us in those undesirable places and situations to do so. Yes, Army Rangers need the Good News, but so do Army cooks and mechanics! Of course Hawaii needs the hope of Jesus, but so does Fort Polk!
Why Does God Plant?
Why do we plant seeds? Seeds are planted for two reasons: 1) to produce fruit or food, or 2) to bring beauty to otherwise colorless, hopeless environments. Seeds, when fully grown, bring life and beauty! We must recognize that we are seed in God’s hand. God is the planter and cultivator of us, and he wants his Glory to shine in the lives around us. It is through his people that he brings the message of life and beauty—the Good News that Jesus has defeated sin, death, and the grave on our behalf, and we can be in right relationship with God through him. We have been planted by God where we are to stand as growing plants, beautiful and life-giving, in contrast to the drab futility and counterfeit offers of hope that the world around us offers.
Sometimes the circumstances into which God has planted us are difficult, uncomfortable, or even scary. Yet we must be reminded that God is the ever-present caretaker of his garden. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells us: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This verse reminds us that whether we are planted in the comfortable confines of Jerusalem, or whether we are scattered to the challenging Ends of the Earth, God is with us and empowers us in and through the Holy Spirit. God does not plant us where he is not already at work. This should both encourage us and embolden us, for “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Do Not Grow Weary
Perhaps you find yourself in an undesirable location. Possibly your relationships at home or work are difficult. Maybe you wish you were somewhere more comfortable. Perhaps circumstances have sapped all the enjoyment out of life. Be encouraged: grow where you are planted! Let God bring life and beauty into that situation through you. May his love, joy, and peace permeate your sphere of influence. The Holy Spirit is present with you and will empower you to overcome and to bear fruit and beauty! Remember, all gardens begin with dirt and some seeds.
About the Author:
Drew S. McGinley is a chaplain in the United States Army and has served in the Army since 2006, and he also periodically teaches at Northwest University as an adjunct professor. He is married to Jazymn, who served eight years as an Army linguist (Farsi & Dari), and he has two amazing and beautiful daughters, Constance and Cadence. Find out more about Drew by visiting: www.linkedin.com/in/drewmcginley/
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