Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1455603
Chaplain Training Tom and Dee Sanchez, Virginia BSHDFC are doing an outstanding job as our new national chaplains. In addition to being available to our members and hosting a regular online prayer group, they are now preparing for "The Gathering" in Texas where they will be presenting formal chaplain training. It's not right that Christian bikers so often sew on a patch that reads "chaplain" simply because they prayed with someone once or twice. Any of us can and should be doing that, but true biker chaplains need to be prepared for crisis opportunities and knowing when they are out of their element and in need of more professional help. If you are interested in such training, contact Tom and Dee at: navyhelo1@verison.net b South Coast Oregon Rally July 7-10, Brookings, OR. Have you even BEEN to Brookings, OR.? It almost seems unfair to the rest of us to live in such a beautiful setting! Located on the sea cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, at the most Southernly west coast of Oregon is the little Hamlet of Brookings! What a place to ride and spend a few days with fellow Black Sheep! If you're interested (and we sure you are) contact Tony Burd at surfingburd@hotmail.com 805-710-2275 or Colleen at Gurney.Colleen@yahoo.com, 541-469-7053b Confessions of a Combat Veteran Matt Weiser BSHDFC In recent years, my life has been a convoluted mess of pain, heartbreak, and overwhelming challenges as a combat veteran with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD is "A disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions. Symptoms may include nightmares or unwanted memories of the trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma, heightened reactions, anxiety, or depressed mood. Treatment includes different types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as medications to manage symptoms." When I raised my right hand to serve, I already knew we were going to war. I also knew that my life was no longer my own and that death was a real possibility. My job and objective as a medic were to save as many lives as God would allow. For my family, military service was a tradition of honor. I grew up hearing tales of former family members who had survived or died in wars that came and went long before, but none of those stories prepared me for the realities of war or the aftermath as a survivor. I gladly served my country but wished someone would have prepared me for the harsh realities that I would face. I live with nightmares that plague my sleep as well as my waking hours. I live everyday with crippling anxiety and the arduous trek towards mental health that has taken me nearly fifteen years to come even this far. In my nightmares I face again the consequences of war, challenged again and again who I can save and who I cannot. During the day I have fleeting thoughts that trigger horrible memories of the lives that were solely dependent upon my abilities upon my abilities. If I were to share those gory moments here most would cringe and turn away. To cope, I practice my prayers, meditation and grounding techniques while reminding myself that I did the best that I could.