by Hillar Alkok
A fairly new term has arisen in the discussion about Post Traumatic Stress within the communities of First Responders and Military. The term is “Moral Injury” and I will try to define it as best I can.
Most of us have what I call a “moral compass” and that is true whether you are a Christian like me or even an atheist. We know what is right and what is wrong even when our society tries to blur the edges. So as a first responder who does something that goes against that moral compass, either by choice or through the orders of someone else, it can cause “moral injury”. There is among other things, a feeling of guilt that just won’t go away because the person is unable to cope with the decision to harm another human being and perhaps even killing them.
This is where many will turn to a psychiatrist or psychologist but I would suggest another option that has not been talked about yet. Even among these professionals, it is understood that the values most of us have are those taught to us at a very early age. For example my mother always reminded me to never take a short-cut across someone’s property even when all my friends were doing so. Simple and yet it has stayed with me all these years. There are other things like love, integrity, humility and respect. What many may not recognize is that these are values from the Bible. There is great wisdom found in the Word of God but because so many have turned away from faith in a “higher being”, it has been highjacked by others who have claimed it as their own “revelation”.
A Chaplain is not someone who judges or preaches at someone. They come along side the person and direct them to a source that can help overcome the struggle called moral injury. It is an approach that doesn’t analyze or treat with medication. It may be done in conjunction with these things but the solution is not found in anything else but God. It has worked for “messed up” people for centuries and it will certainly help many who are open to this kind of counsel.
So as a Christian Chaplain I believe there is a place in the discussion about PTSD, OSI and Moral Injury, for spiritual counsel. It is different from clinical therapy and I make no apology for saying so. There are excellent therapists in an organization called Badge of Life and I highly recommend them for those suffering from PTSD. My desire is to provide every possible resource to those struggling from these things and I hope that will soon include Christian Chaplains. Even if one person would benefit from talking to someone like me, it is worth it. I hope you agree.
