Christian Living

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Cheerful Giving
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Chaplain Alan Rippenger seemed to make a positive lasting impression upon just about everyone he personally met. He was remembered because when he had the opportunity, he personally participated in much of the training activities of the basic training privates as he could. As examples, he would rise at 0400 hours just about every morning to participate in Physical Readiness Training with the brand new Privates; go out on bivouacs as they occurred; provide individual counseling for the Privates even after hours or late at night; initiate calls on behalf of Privates in emergency or non-emergency situations and a multitude of circumstances or situations.

Recently, after a 5 mile run, Chaplain Rippenger was asked what were the differences between Privates fourteen years earlier and now. “Today they’re wanting to serve in the military today to gratefully give back to a nation that has given them so much. I’m not saying that earlier Privates weren’t patriotic. They were. I’m just saying that today’s Privates seem unified in their desire to give back to the nation they believe has given them so much.”

Chaplain Rippenger mentioned how magnificently the privates, some of whom are now mid-level non-commissioned, are doing throughout the Army. Presenting a stack of postcards and letters, Chaplain Rippenger read some of them.

One letter reported a soldier having organized a drive to obtain shoes for Iraqi children. The drive was so successful that 51 children received shoes from his unit. Another letter came from a former soldier whose civilian agency, with her leadership, rallied to help victims of the Joplin, Missouri tornado with food, temporary shelter, clothing and, in one case hospitalization as well as medical assistance.

There were many other pieces of communication Chaplain Rippenger had in his possession. “Thanks be to God for these soldiers and former soldiers and their past and present service to God, the United States and the United States Army,” replied a cheerful Chaplain.

A generous spirit has deep roots in the United States not just from military servicemen and servicewomen but the American public in general. Service to God and humankind from the American public extends back to the pre- and post- American societies. Though jealousy, envy and coveting others possessions and wealth has always been a problem in human social structures, a majority people realized dependence upon each other was a necessity.

The generous spirit that Chaplain Rippenger discussed is very much active among American servicemen and servicewoman as well as the American society from where they came from. The Judeo-Christian spirit is still very much alive…and growing. This is in spite of the attempts to suggest that Americans are selfish and evil particularly those who have private, personal wealth.

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