A gift of hope Published Nov. 30, 2010 By Chap. (Lt. Col.) Randall E. Kitchens 21st Space Wing chaplain PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- One year ago, while serving as the wing chaplain with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, I had the opportunity to talk with many of our Airmen who were proud to serve but were also dealing with complex and difficult situations back home with family and friends. The lonely, silent nights in a dark dorm room, barrack, B-hut or tent only magnified their challenges and a good night's sleep was difficult to come by. There was a battle between hopefulness and hopelessness in multiple situations. Guiding these great Airmen to find the gift of hope and purpose was central to their return to a focused military service in a combat zone. For others, they felt tension and anxiety that largely centered on an inner need to give back to the community and help someone in need. It was during this time that so many were struggling with finding purpose, hope and satisfaction during the holiday season. The assistance we could offer to the Afghan people was limited; there were also limitations helping our fellow servicemembers downrange. We collected chocolate, cards and personal items to send downrange to forward operating bases and outposts, which brought a sense of belonging and a taste of the holiday season to their bare-base experience. Guiding these great Airmen towards finding hope by doing for others lifted their spirits during a potentially lonely time. Within the Peterson community today, our challenges are not much different. Though we are outside the combat zone, we battle some of the same feelings and emotions. These feelings and emotions are real and impact our lives deeply and in many ways. In the midst of these very real emotions, where do we find hope? For many during this holiday season, we will find hope by taking the opportunity to offer hope to others and in return, find a gift of hope in our own life experiences. This is the season where we have the chance to think of others and do something nice for someone else. It warms our heart along with the heart of the other person. Many have asked, "What can I do?" That is an excellent question. The list is very, very long but here is a very short summary. Perhaps this could be your bucket list: A gift of hope. - Send a care package and a card to the deployed members from your unit/community. - Take an angel from the Angel Tree and offer a special gift to a military child this season. - Offer a smile and greeting to another person especially with the current ops tempo, economic crisis, work demands, and relationship challenges. - Offer a baked item as a gift to someone going through a struggle. - Lend a confidential and listening ear to your wingman. - Volunteer to serve at a soup kitchen for those who are hungry or donate goods to a homeless shelter. - Help a neighbor, co-worker or friend with a project. - Join in with community activities helping to build spirit such as the tree lighting, party or concert. - Offer to help the family of a deployed family member. - Be alert and attentive to find someone who needs help, care, attention, a listening ear, or just a kind word. You can offer a small gift of hope just when a person needs that special touch, kindness, and consideration whether it is on your bucket list or not. Balancing life's challenges with the demands and priorities in the military can sometimes be overwhelming. Stopping and helping others can often times boost our own hope and point others towards hope and lift the spirits of the other person. The real question is: What will you do now? The answer and next step is easy: Take the time this season to offer the gift of hope to the next person you see.