Put the Spotlight on Me!

Loren and Ralph Erickson

​On Saturday, family and friends gathered to honor and remember Ralph Erickson.  Ralph lived a whole life of 90 years, serving as an Army Chaplain, a Clinical Pastor, and a Grief Counselor.  Married twice (both of his wives, Joanna and Darlene, passed away), Ralph was a man who loved Jesus and who cared deeply about his family and people.  He served as an Army Chaplain for 24 years, with two tours in Vietnam.  He received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal (a medal for aviators awarded him for the incredible number of hours he spent on helicopters to minister to troops). ​

While serving at a base camp in Vietnam, the commander contacted Ralph late one night with a vexing problem. One of their soldiers had a machine gun and was firing off rounds and making threats toward fellow soldiers.  The commander asked Ralph for his help. Ralph knew that the camp used spotlights at night from their wooden towers to ensure no enemy was sneaking into the perimeter.  So, he said to his commander, “Put the spotlight on me.”  Then he walked out to unfolding chaos.  Sure enough, the guard in the tower pointed the spotlight at Ralph, who held out his hands to show he was not armed.  Then he yelled to the crazed soldier, “This is the Chaplain.  You can see I’m unarmed. Let’s talk.”  

Ralph’s act of heroism resulted in the de-escalation of a dangerous situation. As a result, no one ended up getting harmed, and imagine the impression of courage he left on all who served with him.  
 
Meditation
Job 17:9--Yet the righteous person will hold to his way, and the one whose hands are clean will grow stronger.
 
Clean hands (a metaphor for righteousness) promote courage.  Ralph was able to put his life at risk because his relationship with his Father in heaven was strong. He knew that God would either protect him or that if he died, he would be in the presence of the Lord. The spotlight on Ralph revealed a man of conviction, able to stare death down. 
            
I always appreciated Uncle Ralph.  The younger brother of Betty, my mother who passed away from cancer when I was nine, was a great, empathetic listener.  He was unselfish with his time, unhurried, and thoughtful. After hearing my cousin, Loren, share the spotlight story of his dad, I was even more impressed.
            
Are you righteous?  Hold to your ways. Your character and actions matter. They bring the strength and resilience necessary for thriving on an evil planet.  Something to think about . . . in reveration! 
 
Inspiration
“Righteousness has to do with the vertical standard that God gives us to please Him. Justice has to do with the horizontal expression of that righteous standard in the lives of others.”—Tony Evans
 
©2023 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you want to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)