Fly Into the Wind by Lt Colonel Dan Rooney

Author:Lt Colonel Dan Rooney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Published: 2020-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

LOE #7: SERVICE BEFORE SELF

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)

There are three core values that we adhere to in the Air Force:

Integrity first

Excellence in all we do

Service before self

While the first two values are about character, service before self refers to the dedication each individual airman displays by putting his country before his own life, putting aside individual needs and comforts for the sake of others, and making complete and necessary sacrifices in defense of the U.S. Constitution. While I was very much accustomed to the concept of service before self from my many years in the Air Force (only half a percent of the population suits up each day for the U.S. military to protect the other 99.5 percent), that moment on Flight 664 extended the idea of service beyond my chosen vocation. While I was proud of my service to my country, I aspired to deepen my commitment to serving others.

As it turned out, Jesus would be my ultimate inspiration as I began to think about how I could help Brock Bucklin’s family. Jesus may have been the son of God, but he was sent to earth to serve, not to be served. He worked effortlessly with the sick and poor (who were often shunned by others) by healing their wounds and providing them with food and the comfort of kind words.

After witnessing that scene on the tarmac, I wanted to open my heart, mind, and spirit to the Bucklin family. I wanted to find a way to ease their burden. And if I could help the Bucklins, perhaps I could also help other families who were facing similar struggles and make a difference that would have a truly lasting impact.

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