Encouragement

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Sergeant Major’s Meal
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Private First Class John Lofland, a cook, was know by most everyone in the Battalion as a prankster. During Basic Training, he put plastic wrap on a toilet that resulted in grief for its unsuspected users. At his initial duty station, the Private’s removal of a peer’s mattress in exchange for bits of newspaper made for one very angry soldier who, though drunk, tired to enact revenge on the prankster. Although Private Lofland activities never enacted bodily injury to his victims, his pranks certainly got members of his units attention and ire. The question on his peers’ minds were: When? Where? And Who? Would be Private Lofland’s next unsuspecting victim. Soon peers took bets as to who would get it and what would be the outcome.

Private Louda wagered it would be the Company First Sergeant with Private Lofland getting extra barricks clean up duty as punishment. Private Stump argued that he’d get the Battalion Comander and get thirty days in the can (jail). Private Trusty thought he’d get the Commanding General and end up at Fort Levenworth Military Prision for life!

Two days after their wages, Private Lofland struck. On that Monday morning, Private Lofland placed a plate of eggs, bacon and extremely burned biscuits smuthered under a rich, thick white gravy before the Battalion Sergeant Major.

“O my gosh!” whispered Private Stump.

“He’s freakin’ crazy!” mumbled Private Louda.

“I’m outta here!” said Private Trusty.

All who know what Private Lofland had done waited to see what the Sergeant Major would do. Yet all the Sergeant Major did was to cut into the food, put large amounts in his mouth, and smile at the Company First Sergeants assembled for their weekly Battalion meeting. The Sergeant Major ate every bite of his meal.

Private Lofland, as well as those who knew what he had done, were shocked. Before the Sergeant Major had the opportunity to leave, Private Lofland stepped up nervously to tell him what he had done. When the Sergeant Major heard Private Lofland’s explanation, he merely laughed then said: “Private, I’ve heard about your pranks. But I’m gonna tell you that that was the best dang plate of biscuits and gravy I’ve ever had in my thirty years in the Army! Yep! You see, Private, I kinda like my biscuits overdone. I actually hat mushy biscuits and gravy. Good chow, Private! Good chow!”

Private Lofland stood stunned as did his peers. Each man, as well as Private Lofland, expected him to be punished for his actions. Private Lofland learned that his action did not surprise the Sergeant Major. Rather, the Sergeant Major surprised Private Lofland. His years of experience proved useful when dealing with the Private Loflands of the world.

Life presents all the living with challenge—cruel people, non-caring people and people who will taunt us relentlessly when they have the opportunity to do so. The Sergeant Major seemed to understand the young Private Lofland did what he did as a way of getting personal attention. In his own unique way, the Sergeant Major revealed Private Lofland’s faults to him telling him that you CAN change what one does and who one does for the good of oneself and the good of friends and neighbors. And that the Sergeant Major, through his leadership, can be vital towards the creation of healthy conditions for all.

It is important that everyone learn to take the beautiful, the bad and indifferent behaviors of others and ourselves and put them before God. In the end, God is the Only Entity that can make the world better for us all. We cannot correct wrongdoing by being wrong and vengeful.

Happiness is the key to a wonderful life. It is best served when it is in the possession of the owner not in the hands of a thief.

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