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

March 2015

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

I know a man who knows a man that knows a man...

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

Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized by a 1990 play written by John Guare. My first reaction to the theory was…No way! So, I put it to the test. For instance – I know LTG (Retired) Don Rodgers. His is friends with George W. Bush. (I’m just one-away from Bush!) Bush knows Putin in Russia…three away. Don and June had coffee with the previous Pope when they were in Rome…two away from the Pope! Well, I guess the theory is pretty accurate. One of the connections I like the most is my 3-away connection to Billy Graham…Don Rodgers to Bush to Graham! It’s not like I could go to North Carolina and knock on Billy’s door and expect to be invited to dinner but still, I like having the connection.

So, what is the practical application to this theory? The first is a family link to everyone known by members of my large family. Counting great & great great nephews and nieces there are approximately 120 in my family circle…located all over the USA. I have relatives who are friends with people in Papa New Guinea and England and Burkina Faso and Australia, etc. My brother even knows some government officials in New Guinea…I’m only one away from them. My son, Eddie, graduated High School with and knew Chris Kyle, The American Sniper. I am proud to be just one away from him.

The next application of the theory is, of course, my OCS family. I know many of you personally and many of you know people in high places that would amaze all of us. So, for many of you, I am just one away from those you know and even your family members. I especially appreciate all of the Class 02-67 guys I struggled and sweated with in the ‘trenches’ of Fort Gordon. I spent some time in ‘harm’s way’ with some of you and will always be grateful for our connection as “brothers-in-arms.” I have gotten to know many others of you through Association Reunions and associated activities. You have given me a connection to ‘your world.’ Most of you will never know what my connection to you has meant to me; how it has impacted my life for the better. I am grateful for my connection to all of you.

Certainly, as Chaplain, my most important connection is the one with God. I understand that different Faiths have different interpretations of that connection. But, as a Christian, my connection to Him is described in John 14:6…  “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It is awesome to understand that through my belief in Jesus Christ…I am just one-away from…GOD! So, NOW would be a good time to assess whatever your connection is to our Creator. I encourage you to work to make that connection as close and solid as possible.

May your connections be blessed!

Max Holt, Class 02-67, Association Chaplain 

  



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