Chaplain
Friends Don’t
Let Friends
Jive Junk
Over the course of this deployment I have enjoyed witnessing how various cultures in?uence each other. The
American soldiers of Multinational Battle Group-East have had opportunities to experience local cuisine, as well as
the foods of our NATO allies. On the ?ip side, I have seen Japanese and Mexican restaurants here in Kosovo. When
the Liaison Monitoring Teams visit schools sometimes we will play American basketball with the children and at
other times we will play European football (soccer). We are also learning words and phrases in Albanian, Serbian
and the languages of our international partners, while they in turn are improving their knowledge of English. I have
even noticed many Spider-Man backpacks, rugs, and toys over here! Different civilizations rub off on each other
more and more as technology advances and world travel becomes more routine.
What is true for cultures is also true of individual relationships. Psalm1:1 describes the power of corrupting in?uences:
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat
of mockers.” Notice the progression here; ?rst he walks with the wicked, then he stands with them and eventually he
sits with the mockers. Psalm 101:4-5 also warns us about the adverse sway that some people may have over us if we
allow them to: “Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders
his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him I will not endure.”
In other words, we should not surround ourselves with hateful, negative people who spread malicious gossip and
slander. Rather, we must desire to be around those who bring out the best qualities in us, and we should also strive
to be that kind of person for others in our own relationships. Seek to have more uplifting conversations and don’t
dwell and obsess over negative things. In some cases it may be time to cut sling load on friendships that draw out
our worst attributes and are simply draining.
Let me conclude with these insightful words from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas; average
minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
FCP Chaplain
CH (Capt.) Robert Miller
The French National Support Element participated in the renovation of a foot bridge at the Visoki Decani Monastery, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, in western Kosovo Sept. 9-12.
This project was planned by KFOR’s Joint Logistic Support Group
who requested the support of French soldiers and resources.
The gateway enables monks and visitors to cross the river from the
village to the monastery. The NSE team used a crane to remove the old
wooden bridge, which was threatening to collapse.
The four sections form a bridge 40 meters long and weighing 8 tons.
To install the gateway, the crane had to be positioned alternately on
both sides of the river, sometimes behind the imposing walls of the
monastery and sometimes ?????????????????????????? ????????)???????????????A?????????????????????????????()A ???((0