The other night, my college age son approached my wife and me and said, “Reference COVID- 19, we should all adopt C.S. Lewis’ mindset concerning the atomic bomb.” Both of us were unfamiliar what C.S. Lewis said in reference to the atomic bomb, and we asked him to please explain. He sent us to the following quote.
C. S. Lewis wrote the following in 1948 after the dawn of the atomic age:
“This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays
USACE, we are living in challenging times. This we know for sure, and we do not need others to constantly remind us of this fact. We cannot turn on the TV, radio, or look at our smart devices without this constantly being thrown in our faces. Because I know this is true, please receive these two encouragements.
First, know that “God will keep you in perfect peace” when your MIND is focused on Him,
“because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). This is a promise! Regardless of what happens, as long
as our mindset remains correct, God is in charge, and His peace is an available resource.
Second, I borrow a quote from LTG Semonite: “Remain Steady in the Saddle!” This sums up nicely what C.S. Lewis wrote in 1948. We know challenges will come. We are facing a challenge now. We also know that HOW we meet those challenges is so important. Although we are being asked to do difficult tasks during difficult times, please remember you that you are the BEST! I have served with a lot of superb organizations. Very few of those organizations are as exceptional as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I am praying for you, available to you, and fully ready to support your teams and you. Essayons!!
Blessings,
Chaplain (Colonel) Brad Baumann