By Padre Howard Rittenhouse
Not so very long ago, (at least, that’s how it feels), in a not-very-far-away place, I was a pastor of a small church near Owen Sound, ON. I’d been there for nearly 14 years and was, I thought, content. And then God ambushed me, as He often does, and did so in full cooperation with my ever-supportive wife.
And that, dear readers, is how I became a chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces. Obviously, it’s a much longer tale with which I shall not bore you. The point is that I felt then, and still feel, that God called me very deliberately and very emphatically into military chaplaincy. This was a very different and more challenging form of ministry than that with which I’d been familiar for 20 years.
And now, after over 18 years, I am bidding farewell to the CAF: to the troops, to the uniform, and to a vastly different way of life. I’m retiring. And I still can’t get my head entirely around that!
Similarly, I couldn’t initially get my head around being called into military chaplaincy’s different culture, different kind of ministry, liable to postings in any part of the country, deployments, plus physical and mental demands. For quite a while I felt like an imposter—like the uniform was ill-fitting—and entirely incompetent. In fact, a colleague made that point while we were on “basic;” most of us had been in church ministry for years and believed ourselves competent. Then, we joined the CAF, and suddenly we didn’t know how to iron our shirts, polish our shoes, or even walk (march) properly. In a word, we were incompetent!
Well, after 18 years in uniform, three geographical postings (Ottawa, Edmonton, and Cold Lake), a deployment to Kabul, domestic operations, multiple next-of-kin notifications, promotion, and, tragically, the last ramp ceremony performed for a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan, I think I became fairly competent?
I also think it’s been worthwhile. I believed when I joined, and believe still, that military chaplaincy is a unique, important, and always changing ministry. It’s not easy straddling the secular and the spiritual, wearing a uniform with a faith identifier on it, supporting troops who are having their worst day, and wandering the base drinking coffee and wasting peoples’ time.
That last line is how I describe much of my ministry. Ministry of presence, we call it: being where the troops are, often doing what they’re doing (with the exception of weapons training), living and breathing military life and culture, and sharing the same hardships and absences from home as the troops. This includes many, many cold and wet exercises in Wainwright, and 45-degree heat in Afghanistan.
And again, despite all of that, I uncategorically affirm that it was worth it. I joined to serve God, serve Canada, and serve troops and their families. I did that. And I loved it.
I loved it because I was engaged in ministry at the coal face. Because it was deeply meaningful and full of purpose. Because my long-suffering wife was fully behind me, as were my sons. Because I believed God was present always and everywhere.
I leave with no regrets. Sure, I’m tired and my body reminds me I ain’t 35 anymore, but I’m looking forward to new things. I’ve made some incredible mates, have a trove of incredible memories, and will cherish this part of my life in ministry.
Despite retiring from the CAF, despite aches and always risking injury just getting up in the morning, I’m not done! I plan to travel with my wife. I plan to enjoy time with our families (even hers). I plan to continue to serve God in whatever fashion in which He may next ambush me!
Padre (for now) Howard Rittenhouse
