I had an unexpected blessing last week that I want to share with you. There is a soldier who comes to our regular Bible studies and sings in our choir. By the way, I use the term "choir" loosely because I personally am not only the director but also the lead singer, and I am the least qualified of all the worship staff at ULC to lead music. I can barely read notes on a page without having to think, "OK, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, so that's an F. Now what the heck does an F sound like?". But as we say in the Army, we just have to do the best we can to polish the, ummmm, 'dropping' we've been given. So, I tell the guys every week, "We may not be good, but at least we're loud enough that God couldn't possibly ignore us!"

Anyway, one of my very faithful Christian soldiers in this group came up to me and said, "Chaplain, I was reading John 13 in my devotions this morning, and this is going to sound really weird, but I have felt the Spirit moving me to talk to you all day. I would like to wash your feet."

My instant reaction was to think of at least 2 dozen reasons NOT to allow this respected brother in Christ to get anywhere near my disgusting, sweaty, smelly feet that sit in my boots for 16 hours a day. But most of those reasons were about my own self-consciousness, and that's a terrible reason to turn down a man who wants to bless you.

So, I acquiesced. He took off my boots and socks himself, even though they probably have more fungus in them than most mushroom farms. And then, in my office, he placed my feet in a bowl filled with cool water and washed them.

I really don't remember what we said. I was tempted to take control of the moment by saying something preachy and profound, but that would have cheapened his gesture. This was his blessing to offer, not mine to seize. Feeling helpless and overwhelmed with blessing at the same time, I sat there for long minutes after he was done, just thinking and wondering when was the last time anyone had done something so unexpected, humbling, and Christ-like for me?

Strangely, I don't think this episode has inspired me to go out and do the same thing for someone else. It's not that I wasn't moved by the gesture; exactly the opposite is true. But turning around and doing the same thing right now would feel like an attempt to earn his blessing after the fact. The lesson for me wasn't, "Go and do likewise"; I already am serving in my own way. The lesson is that even in the middle of my service and sacrifice as a chaplain, God still blesses me with far more than I am able to repay. So let me just close with a thank you to Christ for his blessings, and to that soldier for showing Christ to me on that day.

God be good to you!