By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
It is no surprise that the theme of “giving” is popping up in this edition of Athens Now. After all, it is the holiday season; a time of celebrating being given remarkable gifts such as the miracle of the oil in the Temple lasting eight days in the middle of a brutal siege. And for Christians, even though the timing is off as to it being December 25, being given a savior who was born in brutal circumstances is the most remarkable gift of all time, if we will let that Gift do His work in us.
However, it can be a time of great loneliness for many, including veterans, and thankfully these days there are so many more resources designed to serve those who have “worn the uniform” than existed 20 years ago when I was in Iraq. This Soldier is dedicated to veterans and veterans’ groups that are doing remarkable things on a number of fronts, but there is a twist; so please read on.
Team Rubicon
The term “crossing the Rubicon” originally referred to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River for the point of starting a war; thus, reaching a point of no return and committing to completing the task. Team Rubicon does something interesting in that they have become a highly effective “unit” that deals with disaster relief in America and all over the world. The “war” that they start is against the suffering caused most often by weather gone rogue. All kinds of folk who have served, whether or not they have been in combat show up as “Greyshirts” to get the job done.
Last week during Thanksgiving a team deployed to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Here is what one Marine experienced: “You miss your family, but you also gain perspective. Many of the people we help don’t even have a stable roof over their heads right now. Holiday deployments bring a mix of sacrifice and purpose, and they highlight the best of humanity. Greyshirts lean on each other, watch out for one another, and push forward to make a difference,” he says. “In the end, serving during the holidays isn’t about what you miss; it’s about what you give.” He is on to something, which I will get to in a minute.
Turbo Vets
Even though their platform is completely different, TurboVets has the same “Rubicon” mentality, focusing on serving veterans through technology and connecting veteran service groups into a monster clearinghouse that streamlines the process of accessing benefits, building businesses, and continuing to serve. They are not Greyshirts, they often are wearing three-piece suits, but don’t let these guys fool you. Many are SEALS, many have seen action, many have been wounded to the point that they had to completely rebuild their lives, and they are paying it forward using technology to do so.
What do they have in common? They have experienced something described by psychologists known as “costly giving.” In a word, it is the joy that comes when you give out of your core essence; when it really costs you to do so. The benefits to your health are virtually endless, especially when it comes to cardiovascular and mental health. Steve and I saw it often when we lived at the orphanage in Ciudad Juarez. Over the holidays, teams and families would come stay and spend their holiday giving, and without fail, the smiles were from ear to ear. I saw sullen teenagers light up, and my own mother-in-law, who already was a giver for sure, went back to Minnesota refreshed. Of course, that was AFTER she made her famous pecan rolls for everyone…
So, what am I proposing? That perhaps you and your family, and especially if you are a veteran, plan on making a memorable holiday that possibly includes some discomfort and discover “costly giving” in a whole new way. It absolutely cannot hurt.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
