First, there was the Last Supper. And now there was the "final breakfast."
On March 17, Fort McPherson held its final National Prayer Breakfast at The Commons at Fort McPherson.
While the last of its kind, the prayer breakfast held to the tradition of allowing people to feast, fellowship and worship in their own tradition.
Chap. (Lt. Col.) Bob Phillips, U.S. Army Garrison chaplain, said although it was sad to know it was the last prayer breakfast, he hoped it provided people with the spiritual punch in the arm to motivate them.
To accomplish that, attendees were given a message from a guest speaker, Chap. (Col.) Glen Bloomstrom, command chaplain, U.S. Joint Special Operations Command. In keeping with the theme of "Facing Fear in Troubled Times," Bloomstrom spoke of his own career and how he endured the hardships and times of fear faced.
An Army ranger, Bloomstrom spoke of one of the most frightening moments of his life: a combat jump with the 3rd Ranger Battalion into Panama during Operation Just Cause Dec. 20, 1989.
On the flight to the drop zone, Bloomstrom said he found peace in reciting Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God. "I don't know what you are facing today," Bloomstrom said. "As we face our uncertain future, it can be our faith that makes sense of change and gives us peace to move with confidence and security."
Such faith is necessary, especially in today's times, Bloomstrom said, noting all the major crises in the past year.
"We're living in uncertain times, nationally and internationally," he said, pointing out the British Petroleum oil spill last year in the Gulf of Mexico, the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the economic collapse around the world.
Locally, he brought up the upcoming closure of Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem. Though not uncertainties, like the random disasters, the closures are a cause of concern and worry, Bloomstrom said. "Change is coming and the momentum will not stop," he said, adding people need to find a firm place to hold on to weather these storms.
For Bloomstrom, such a rock is found in Isaiah 41:10. From this scripture, Bloomstrom said people can take away five key points, which he called the five pillars of fearlessness: "God is with me, God is my God, God will strengthen me, God will help me and God will uphold me," he said.
While most of his words were on encouragement on how to make it through difficult times, Bloomstrom also left attendees with a word of thanks, offering his gratitude to them for being part of "a community that has been vital to our nation."
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