KABUL, Afghanistan - Pain and suffering are not typically what people seek out, but for over 20 years, one man's daily dose of it was still not enough to stop him from asking for more.
As a nurse, I tried to help people and talk to them, "but I never had time to just be with someone," said Army Chaplain (Capt.) James B. Russell, the new 25th Signal Battalion chaplain. He explained that his patients were not only in pain physically, but normally, emotionally as well, and there was just never time to assist with that kind of agony.
"I could deal with people's pain as a nurse, but as a chaplain, I can enter into people's suffering."
Russell says the best part of being a chaplain now is the opportunity to speak to so many people. "Just to sit and be with someone is a gift from God." Sometimes people just want to talk and get things off their chest. From time to time they have questions on finances, organizations or history. And now and then, they want to discuss very personal things, which the chaplain considers a benefit. "It is an honor and privilege to listen to a person's story."
Regardless of the conversation's topic, the chaplain says he is not there to preach or convert people. "About 90 percent of the time, I am not even talking about religion. I am just having a conversation with someone," said Russell. If religion is the topic, he says his mission is not to alter any beliefs to a certain faith or to degrade their opinions. "I will not demean my beliefs, but I will not demean theirs either." It is simply a dialogue between people with one straightforward motive on my part, said Russell. "My goal is to help relieve people's suffering."
The conversation topics with servicemembers are not new to Russell even though he has only been a chaplain for five years since leaving his nursing career. "Being an Army chaplain is sometimes like being a youth group leader. The only difference here is that everybody has guns,"
said Russell. He explained that young Soldiers are looking for answers just like the youth he lead at his church back home.
As a 49-year-old captain and a chaplain, I am looked at as a parent figure a lot, said Russell. "Whether they had a good or bad relationship with their parents, they crave that healthy mentorship. It is the same thing with a sergeant major."
Russell says he holds his son responsible for the fact that he is mentoring other young Soldiers. "It is his fault I am a chaplain."
About five years ago, there were all these things pushing me into becoming a chaplain, he said. A friend suggested it. A chaplain recruiter called. And, my son, who was a Soldier in the Army Reserves, and now on Active Duty said, 'Wouldn't it be neat if you were my chaplain', before he deployed to Iraq, said Russell.
With everything pointing that way, I finally threw my hands in the air and said, "OK God," the chaplain said with a laughed. I should have realized it sooner, but I had never considered joining the Army, said Russell. That just shows that if God wants it, it will happen, he said.
"God has a plan for us to give us hope and a future - not to destroy us or hurt us. The hard part is figuring out what that plan is and trying to follow it."
All the people that suggested becoming a chaplain saw a potential in me and were all part of the plan, said Russell. "People see things in us that we don't always see in ourselves."
Now that father and son are both deployed to Afghanistan, the chaplain said he is more anxious for his 24-year-old boy who is expecting his first child at the end of July. "I am more concerned about what is going on with my son than myself." It is not that I worry, but I do
pray for him more, said Russell. "I see all these young Soldiers here, and they are his age. If I could, I would change places with him. I don't want him here. I don't want any of them here."
But, as a Soldier himself, the chaplain is proud of his son and understands the desire to serve his country. "I am a Soldier just like he is. I just don't have a weapon."
However, the chaplain's skills are more useful than a weapon, said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Carl Adams, battalion command sergeant major, 25th Signal Battalion. "He is like the walking physical God of the unit."
My task force members need that spiritual advice and school-training counseling from time to time, he explained.
Whether or not you have faith, we all need to talk to someone once in a while, said Russell. "As a chaplain, I have to go to where they start from and walk along with them on their journey - not bring them to where I want them to be."
Every day is a new opportunity to help someone, said Russell. "I just need to look to see where God's leading me that day. My job is not just on Sunday. It's Sunday everyday for a chaplain."
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