My brave young son called me yesterday afternoon. He was on the road heading for a fire somewhere in the southwest. He said the rumor was New Mexico. After graduating from college in 2010 he felt the need to do service. He joined the US Forest Service and for 14.00 an hour and no benefits he fights wildland fires. This is his second summer. I haven't heard from him today so I don't know which of the six new fires or the dozen or so old fires he would be going to. I'm nervous. I figure God did it.
During WWII my mom was an Army nurse and my dad was in the field artillery. In 1972 I got my draft notice. I was an Army medic from 73-75. After college I served a year with VISTA. I've been a clinical social worker for 31 years. I figure God did it because I felt a need to serve despite strong feelings against the war in Vietnam. I did a good job steering my son away from the military but not from service. I figure God does that.
The call to serve does not diminish even when the focus of the service is wrong. I remember writing home once about the absurdity of what I was doing and about how ironic it would be if I lost my life while doing it. But still I did it. The further irony is not lost on me should my son end up at Los Alamos.
The country is burning because 100 years of wrong headed fire suppression policies have collided with the tipping point of climate change. All those brave young men and women are at Los Alamos protecting the rest of the country, and the planet from the catastrophe that would ensue should wild fire engulf our most sensitive nuclear weapons laboratory. They serve because God made them that way.
But God also gave us choice. Aggression or compassion, altruism or narcissism we have a choice and it is that choice that puts those who serve in such jeopardy. When loss occurs through ill motivation the tragedy is compounded. Young people will serve for all the right reasons. But what they serve may not be similarly motivated.
One further insult. I live in Minnesota. State government shut down this morning. The republican legislature offered a "compromise" the governor couldn't/wouldn't accept. They suggested further bonding which created more debt in the future and a deferral of monies promised to the schools thus creating more debt. The governor wants to raise revenue by increasing the tax for the top 2%. The call to service vs the motivation behind the call. One is God driven the other is free will.