No One Could Know

Cols. Marty Reynolds and Mark Williamson lead Offutt AFB, Bellevue, Neb.

They introduced themselves as “Marty” and “Mark” before they took seats across from me at a large, round table in the restaurant today. They opted for fried chicken from the buffet and I ordered a French dip sandwich.

There in the club at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, surrounded by Airmen in fatigues, we talked about their newspaper, “The Base,” which I design.

“Why would these men want to meet with me and the newspaper editor?” I wondered to myself. “They’re a little busy right now!”

My lunch mates, Col. Marty Reynolds and Col. Mark Williamson, are the men responsible for the U.S. Strategic Command — one of the sites on the ISIS hit list. I couldn’t imagine their having time for such a meeting.

“How can they be so casual?” I wondered again.

The two men also command support to more than 50 associate units and 32 squadrons that happen to be executing worldwide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic attack, command and control, presidential support, and treaty verification missions. And, they’re responsible for the Air Force Weather Agency around the world and more than 57,000 active-duty members and citizens in the area.

Why on EARTH would they take time out of their incredible duties to talk with me about their newspaper? I was happy just to know that they read it. My editor, Ron Petak, has been with the paper for 30 years and said he’s never had a commander express an interest in meeting to talk about the paper. Why now?

Their incredible resumes astound me. But more than that, with all their brass and hoopla behind their names, they earned my highest respect by also placing such a high level of importance on face-to-face communication. It’s important to these men that they connect with the readers of “The Base.”

Reynolds comes to the 55th ECG June 27, 2013 from Washington D.C., where he was the Global Operations Directorate’s chief of cyber operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

As “Marty” talked about the time he played defensive back in an Air Force football game against the Cornhuskers and laughed that the NFL was not a career choice for him, I looked around the room again and noted something. All of the Airmen were happy and “at ease” as they munched with their companions.

Everyone was smiling as they ate. Yet I know that each of the 10,000 people behind that heavily-guarded fence are keenly aware they’re on hallowed ground — the very place Russia … oh, and China … and North Korea … and, oh yeah, ISIS — have in their scopes.

But I was safe there, surrounded by our nation’s choicest protectors, and was reminded that with preparedness comes boldness. Our military members rely wholly on their training, and on each other, and are set for anything that could happen.

I left intensely challenged in my own preparedness and pass the challenge to you. I humbly ask: are you ready for anything that could happen? “Marty” and “Mark” aren’t the only ones who’ve asked for face-to-face meetings. God wants one with you.

He repeated 365 times in the Bible: “fear not.” While we’re commanded by The Commander to not be afraid, God urges us to be ready, instant in season and out of season.

Psalm 91 says when we dwell in the shelter of the Most High God, we’ll remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no enemy can withstand. It goes on to say, “Surely, he shall deliver us from the snare of the fowler and the noisome pestilence. He shall cover us with his feathers, and under his wings we can trust: his truth shall be our shield and buckler.

It gets even better when you take God at His Word – it doesn’t seem to matter to God who is on another man’s hit list. He promised to protect you when you put your faith in Him:

5-8: You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and 10,000 at your right hand; but it’ll not come near you. Only with your eyes will you behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9-16: Because you make the Lord, who is your refuge, even the most High, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They’ll bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You’ll tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon will you trample under feet. Because you set your love upon him, he’ll deliver you: He’ll set you on high, because you know his name.

Call on him. He will answer. He said, “I’ll be with you in trouble; I will deliver you, and honor you.” God vowed that: “With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”

It’s better to trust in the Lord

than to put confidence in man.

–Psalm 118:8