USAFE command chaplain urges Airmen to care for each other

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Chaplain (Capt.) Paul Joyner, 52nd Fighter Wing chaplain, delivers an invocation during the National Prayer Luncheon inside the Brick House here Jan. 20. The National Prayer Breakfast began in 1953 as a way to recognize the values upon which America was founded. The current ceremony highlights these values and promotes a shared sense of spiritual empowerment within communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dillon Davis)

USAFE command chaplain urges Airmen to care for each other

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Chaplain (Col.) G. Scott Henry, U.S. Air Forces in Europe command chaplain, speaks during the National Prayer Luncheon inside the Brick House here Jan. 20 about life’s moral and spiritual values and “taming the terrible twos” in relationships. The National Prayer Breakfast began in 1953 as a way to recognize the values upon which America was founded. The current ceremony highlights these values and promotes a shared sense of spiritual empowerment within communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dillon Davis)

USAFE command chaplain urges Airmen to care for each other

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Col. David Julazadeh, left, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander, gives a book to Chaplain (Col.) G. Scott Henry, U.S. Air Forces in Europe command chaplain, as a token of appreciation for the chaplain’s part in this year’s National Prayer Luncheon inside the Brick House here Jan. 20. The National Prayer Breakfast began in 1953 as a way to recognize the values upon which America was founded. The current ceremony highlights these values and promotes a shared sense of spiritual empowerment within communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dillon Davis)

USAFE command chaplain urges Airmen to take care of each other

Published Jan. 25, 2012
By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Chaplain (Col.) G. Scott Henry, U.S. Air Forces in Europe command chaplain, visited with Airmen during the National Prayer Luncheon here Jan. 20.

The theme for this year's luncheon was "Taming the Terrible Twos."

Henry said parents with children may know the three favorite words of a 2 year old: why, mine and no.

"Taming the terrible twos is something we attempt to do our entire lives," he said as he explained the three words.

"You've got a lot of 'why' inside you," he said of curiosity in human nature. "You want to create things. The most important thing we create is the atmosphere around us, and in doing so, we make the world a better, more just and more giving place."

He also spoke of the word "no," and how it takes a tremendous amount of patience and balance to use and deal with the word. "No" is a powerful word and having the authority to use it is a privilege that can be abused.

"We're here today to give thanks and praise for our Air Force and to use our authority in it to make the world a better place," he said.

One way Henry mentioned to make the world better is to share and support one another. He learned the importance of this while working with a church mission group on a trip to Haiti - an experience that was the basis for the third word, "mine."

He worked with an 8-year-old boy named Zack on this visit. After a day of manual labor, Henry and the other deployed members ensured Zack was given a whole peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Zack didn't eat it; instead he brought the food to share with other workers from his village. This taught Henry and his wingmen a valuable lesson: while sharing can be difficult, it's better to give than receive.

Sharing these sandwiches was their way of being there for each other that day - something the chaplain urges Airmen to do for others all the time.

"Faith has helped me through each experience in my life," he said. "But, it's not just faith in God. It's faith in people too. Being around groups of positive people helps us develop spiritually."

Along with being around positive people comes positive thinking, and right now, there's a lot more good than bad out there, he added.

"I'm privileged to be an Airman in the U.S. Air Force; myself and my family have been enriched by the experience to serve our nation," he said. "There are a lot of challenges like PCSing to new countries. A way to deal with challenges is to get out and get motivated. Don't look at the negative, find opportunities. The key is involvement and to build a sense of community."