THE UNITED STATES ARMY
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Devotional Thoughts

 Devotional Thoughts
 The Spiritual Side of Our Website

This part of the site features monthly devotional thoughts by the Association's Chaplain, with the goal of encouraging Signal Corps OCS Graduates to be exceptional in their lives and to live life at a higher level. Our current Chaplain is of the Christian faith, so naturally, his devotionals are fashioned around his Christian beliefs. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and can be offered directly to the Chaplain by eMail at: MaxHolt@ArmySignalOCS.com


by LTC (R) Max Holt, Class 02-67

September 2015

TURTLE ON A FENCE POST

One thing you know for sure about a turtle on top of a fence post…
He didn’t get up there by himself.

LTC (R) Max Holt - TodayLTC (R) Max Holt

I remember an occasion when I was trying to help my four year old son get dressed for church on Sunday morning. My wife had given me the task while she was doing her ‘makeup’ thing. But he was at that stage where he would always say, “No, I can do it myself.” Left alone he would end up with his shirt on backwards, his pants unzipped and his shoes on opposite feet. But still, he resisted my help. Finally I would have to put my foot down and remind him that I was the grownup (not sure my wife would agree) and he would have to accept my help or suffer the consequences.

As I think back over my life I have to be honest and admit there were times when I was clueless about something but I would try to ‘fake it,’ resisting help and trying to figure it out on my own. Now, as I remember those times, I try to figure out WHY I was so stubborn. Maybe it was a little arrogance. Maybe I was a little embarrassed that I didn’t know whatever it was that I needed to know to do whatever it was I was supposed to do. Maybe I didn’t want to admit that there was somebody smarter than me in a given situation. Often, the consequences of trying to do it on my own were… longer than necessary completion times and less than excellence in the quality of the final result. In a relationship, those who choose to ‘go it on their own’ end up damaging or destroying their relationship.

In reality, LIFE is about partnerships; people helping people. Just as the turtle did not get on top of the fence post by himself, it is rare to find a successful person who did not partner with someone else along the way. Solomon, the wise man who wrote the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, knew that well. Read his words from chapter 4, verses 9 & 10. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” I agree. Partners can help you, encourage you, correct you and often double the output of your effort. Sometimes, they even pay for lunch! In my experience, the lone wolf approach just results in a hungry wolf. So, if you want to accomplish something great in life…professionally or spiritually, find someone great to partner with.

May your partnerships be blessed,
Max Holt, Class 02-67, Association Chaplain

 



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Don Moen - Give Thanks -- Length: 3:33


Prior Month Devotionals
May '11 Jun '11 Jul '11 Aug '11 Sep '11 Oct '11 Nov '11 Dec '11 Jan '12 Feb '12 Mar '12 Apr '12
May '12 Jun '12 Jul '12 Aug '12 Sep '12 Oct '12 Nov '12 Dec '12 Jan '13 Feb '13 Mar '13 Apr '13
May '13 Jun '13 Jul '13 Aug '13 Sep '13 Oct '13 Nov '13 Dec '13 Jan '14 Feb '14 Mar '14 Apr '14
May '14 Jun '14 Jul '14 Aug '14 Sep '14 Oct '14 Nov '14 Dec '14 Jan '15 Feb '15 Mar '15 Apr '15
May '15 Jun '15 Jul '15 Aug '15 Sep '15 Oct 15 Nov 15 Dec 15 Jan 16 Feb 16 May 16 Apr 16

Click the picture below to listen to The Lord's Jukebox... a compilation of all of the devotional music posted since May 2011:

The Lord's Jukebox


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