All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum argues that the most important lessons for living a meaningful life are learned at the lowest level of education. They are simple and include things like cleaning up after yourself and not taking other people’s stuff. Some of it reminds me of Jordan Peterson’s 21 Rules for Life. For example, the latter says, “If you want to change the world, start by cleaning your room.”

            This morning, reflecting on my life before ministry, I realized that the US Army taught me a lesson that has served me well in pastoral ministry. I was an Infantryman. I am sure many people wonder how life in the Infantry can apply to being a pastor. Anyone who has been around a bunch of young soldiers driven by hormones, caffeine and aggression with their language, dark humor, and inappropriate behavior may be surprised that anything from that world can apply in the church. The Army taught me (and others) many important lessons. However, one lesson stands out above all the others.

            Being in the infantry is not easy. Anyone who has served as such knows it sucks. Sorry, but I can’t think of a better word for it. I remember one night crawling into my sleeping bag. It was raining lightly, so I laid my poncho over me. When I awoke, my poncho was covered with ice, and the edges were frozen to the ground. I had to break myself free to get up. Another time, we were out on night maneuvers for training. We were all dead tired—we had been “humping the hills” for a couple days. Somewhere among all the units, someone got hurt, so they stopped all action and put us into administrative mode to bring in a medivac. Our Platoon Leader and NCOs took pity on us when it became apparent that the stop would take some time. They told us to get some shut eye. Being dog-tired, we just dropped where we stood and went to sleep (which is a skill all soldiers learn). Sometime later, we were awakened to get back into action. Only then did I realize I had fallen into and was now entangled in a thorn bush. I got cut to shreds, just trying to get out. That is how tired you get. And that was just in peacetime. Imagine that a hundred-fold and in the face of the enemy and you can see why “suck” is often the best adjective for the life of a grunt. I’ll not go into just how bad it gets in the face of the enemy.

            A common saying in the military is “Embrace the suck!” And to be honest, it struck me this morning that, even if a bit crude, it applies to the ministry. There are often hard times. Pastors lose sleep. We get depressed. We are attacked by those we love. The church has issues—from toxicity, attendance, finances, divisiveness, hypocrisy, to doctrinal disunity. We try to fix what we can. We change what is in our power. We encourage others to help. We pray for God to take care of the rest.

            In the military, “Embrace the suck” meant “Mission before all else, so drive on through it.” You know an operation is not going to be canceled because you are cold or hungry. You aren’t going to be sent home just because you miss your family. If you are bleeding wrap it as best you can and drive on, “Charley Mike: Continue the Mission!”

            In the ministry, we have a mission even when things are hard. We have to keep going forward as well as we can. When overcome, we fall on our face before God, and battle in prayer. If people turn against us, we keep ministering the best of our ability. In the military, cutting and running is desertion. In ministry, there may come a time to leave, but cutting and running is not right. A good shepherd does not desert the flock. We may plead with God to fix the situation or to move us elsewhere. He may respond by doing so. But often he is calling us to white knuckle drive on and “Charley Mike!” We are called to embrace the suck and keep going. One reason the military trains in such conditions is to toughen soldiers for the rigors of combat. God puts us into “the suck” of ministry to toughen us for kingdom service.

            Unless God has called you away, or until he repairs the situation, perhaps he is calling you to “Embrace the suck” and learn from it. Stand strong. Steel yourself. Plant your feet where he has placed you and prepare for battle.