REALITY check

Last Saturday, 22 Navy Seals were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. They were on their way to help a group of Army Rangers who were in trouble, when they got shot down by Taliban insurgents. Not only was it a tragic day, it was the single largest loss of life for U.S. troops since the war began in 2001.

This week I read a CNN article on Aaron Vaughn, one of the Navy Seals who were killed. They reported that his wife, Kimberly Vaughn, "saw TV reports about the downed helicopter Saturday morning, but the tragedy reached her home when her doorbell rang. "I thought, 'Oh, hopefully it's just a neighbor,' and as I rounded the stairs I saw the men in uniform and I just fell to my knees," she said. "There's no preparing for it. It's something you see in the movies. It's not something you're supposed to live through." Her father was standing with her to hold her up as the Navy officers told her that her husband was killed in action. "I fell to my knees and cried and didn't want to hear it, but it's the truth," Vaughn said. "You want it to be a mistake. You want them to say it's the wrong person, but I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

Though she was still in mourning, she had a chance to to tell CNN what kind of man her husband was: "I want to tell the world that he was an amazing man, that he was a wonderful husband, and a fabulous father to two wonderful children. He was a warrior for Christ and he was a warrior for our country and he wouldn't want to leave this Earth any other way than how he did."

CNN then asked Vaughn's grandmother to speak about Aaron. She recalled their last conversation together, when she told him to be careful. Aaron replied, "Granny, don't worry about me. I'm not afraid because I know where I'm going if something happens to me.' Aaron was a Christian and he stood firm in his faith," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "He's with the Lord now and I'll see him again some day."

Reading the CNN article gave me the chills, but it was also a good reminder about staying firm in my faith. On top of that, it happened to be on the same day a San Diego police officer was killed on duty when a suspect pulled up right beside him and shot him. I mean... I guess for anyone, you never know what tomorrow will bring. We could say when it's God's will, it's your time to go. Anyone could get in a car accident on the way to work, suddenly get cancer, etc. But in a way, let's be honest, my job has a couple more risks than the average person.

I hope everyday before work, I could have the confidence in Christ like Aaron did. I wish I could say like he did, "I'm not afraid because I know where I'm going if something happens to me." And I wish people would see me as a warrior for Christ.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you fail to meet the test." (2 Corinthians 13:5) We always talk about reality checks, but I realize I have one everyday. It's a scary thought, but at the same time I see it as a blessing. My hope is that it will bring me closer to God and make me appreciate everything around me.

Never know what tomorrow will bring... Keep your faith in the Lord always.