A Good and Encouraging experience

A year or so ago the AF academy went through a religious scandal. Non-Christian cadets claimed they were discriminated against due to religious intolerance. When I started my job, I knew there was tension when it came to discussing religion from the first day. At work, I feel my spiritual life is off limits to discussion until someone specifically asks. I'm open about my opinions, life choices, and values, but it seems that the word "Christian" has scandal attached. As a friend put it for me, faith seems to become a new category for the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. It's accepted, but I get teased, behind my back and to my face.

That may help explain why today was so cool for me. Today I went to meet and spend time with a the Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the AF, Chaplain General Richardson. I was at his house, unknowingly, for a church bible study Christmas party last weekend. Knowing I was a Lt he introduced himself to me as "Cecil". He showed me such kindness, asking me questions, sharing stories and I left so excited to have met him and excited to go visit him on my coming day off. I was excited because here was a man who's active duty AF job is ministry. I had associated in my AF experience, the AF as being faith-unfriendly. I was impressed by his modesty, I didn't know he was the Deputy Chief of Chaplains until right before I had left his house.

Today he introduced me to all the people on his staff and let me in on something, my senior leadership are all Christians.