FORT LEE, Va. (April 29, 2015) -- About 250 Fort Lee community members attended the April 23 National Prayer Luncheon observance at the Lee Club. The 90-minute event featured remarks by Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Donald L. Rutherford, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains, and patriotic music by Richard Moore and Mary Beth Weathington.
Establishing the significance of the gathering during his introductory comments, installation Chaplain (Col.) Claude Crisp said, "This nation is living in a time of chaos. News reports are difficult to watch as they are filled with images of hatred, harm and immoral behavior. Fighting continues overseas and our military forces continue to stand in harm's way. The need for spiritual strength and prayer has never been greater in recent history."
Prayer observances, he later explained, underscore the importance of faith, fellowship and a strong moral compass. All of those attributes are encompassed in the Spiritual Resiliency category of the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program. The Army defines spiritual fitness as the "development of personal qualities needed to sustain a person in times of stress, hardship and tragedy." These qualities "form the basis for character, disposition, decision making and integrity." (Read more about comprehensive fitness at www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62108.)
Rutherford's message at the luncheon centered on the concept of spiritual growth and well-being. While showing slides of pictures, plaques and baubles adorning his office in the Pentagon, the chief of chaplains discussed lessons learned during a 38-year Army career that included several division- and corps-level assignments as well as deployments for operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Thunder, Iraqi Freedom and Hurricane Andrew Relief. He has held his current position since July 2011 and will retire next month.
"When you walk in my office … the thing you'll probably notice first on my desk is this sign that reads 'A closed mouth gathers no feet,'" Rutherford said. "You may ask yourself, why would that sign be on his desk? Well, it's a reminder that humility and a peaceful spirit are key traits for a good leader.
"When I first came in the Army way back when," he continued, "I was a rather mouthy captain, and I had a commander who thought he was the epitome of the Lord. I thought it was my job as a Catholic priest to set him straight while saving the rest of world. My first supervisor, the division chaplain, watched me go into a spiral with that commander on issues that, in the long run, were not all that critical. He gave me this sign one day to help me remember when I needed to be prophetic, which was
a lot less often than I believed, and when I needed to listen and understand.
"So, 'a closed mouth gathers no feet' is a very important thing," Rutherford noted. "Looking to the future, we need to remind ourselves maturity is not necessarily a function of age but a combination of humility and patience. They are the virtues that lead to growth and great leadership not only among Soldiers, but all of mankind."
A cartoon drawing from Rutherford's office was the next image on the screen. The subject was an airborne Soldier doing just about everything wrong during a parachute jump -- looking down instead of at the horizon; feet and knees not in the proper position for a correct parachute landing fall; and a look of panic on his face showing a lack of confidence.
"It reminds me how lousy of a jumper I was (at the beginning of airborne school) and, for the sake of my own well-being, why I needed to do it better," Rutherford said. "It took training … those junior enlisted Soldiers and (noncommissioned officers) who taught me how the tasks should be done and how to be a better Soldier in general. They made me what I am today. I trusted them because I knew they weren't going to allow me to fail."
The importance of trust cannot be overstated, he said. That has been the mantra of the Army Chief of Staff for the last four years. Leaders must have the trust of their Soldiers, a military community must have the trust of its workforce and families, and the Army must have the trust of the American public. Maintaining trust all hinges on the character and conduct of those in uniform.
His third talking point was illustrated by a framed award containing a collection of challenge coins received at the end of an assignment with the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. He said it reminds him of teamwork and military forces taking care of each other.
"Remind yourself every day you are part of a team," said Rutherford. "In this community, you don't represent a command, you represent individuals. You don't represent a unit, you represent people. That's the mindset behind caring for others and achieving a sense of purpose."
Closing in on the conclusion of his talk, the chaplain pulled up a final image of himself sporting a much longer haircut and a once-treasured moustache. He said it offers a lesson in identity. Our outward appearance does not shape who we are, but the strength of character within.
"Embrace your faith and never be overcome with fear," Rutherford said. "Remember what has been promised. The Lord is the one who walks ahead of us, who is with us, who will never fail us and will never forsake us. Be humble in spirit, trust your NCOs, develop your leadership ability, nurture your relationships, and remain faithful to your own identity.
"There comes a time when every one of us gets our last promotion … no place else to go but home. Perhaps you'll retire with stars, with eagles or three up and three down with a star and wreath in the middle. All of these great things can happen to you in the Army, but when you retire you're going to look right and left to make sure your family and close friends are still standing next to you. That is the reward for a career well-lived."
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