Making days count a la "24"

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danny Monahan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
The base held its annual national prayer event at the Jimmy Doolittle Center here Feb. 2 with a luncheon attended by the Air Force's top chaplain.

"It really is our people that we're most proud of," said Col. Eldon Woodie, 5th Bomb Wing commander, who called the event "first-class."

Hundreds of Team Minot members gathered to hear keynote speaker Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles Baldwin, Air Force chief of chaplains.

Standing at a podium, Chaplain Baldwin instantly reeled in the audience's attention when he began talking about his favorite federal employee (fictitious): Special Agent Jack Bauer of the Fox hit television show "24."

"Jack Bauer deals with terrorism, chemical attacks, torture and missing people, and he deals with it all in one day," said Chaplain Baldwin. "Each week we see how Jack Bauer handles one hour of a day, but how do we handle a day?"

Of all the heroics Agent Bauer performs in one day, they are nothing compared to what God can do, according to Chaplain Baldwin.

"It's amazing what God can do," he said. "God created man in his image in a day. But what's in a day?"

Like Agent Bauer, Chaplain Baldwin said Airmen's days are filled with troubles, trials and truth. However, there is one major difference between the two, he added: Jack Bauer is a fictional character. Kiefer Sutherland, the actor who plays him on the show, can opt out anytime he wants and a new actor will take the lead role.

"It's Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who go out each day and battle the Global War on Terrorism," said Chaplain Baldwin. "There are some very bad people out there in the world causing trouble .... We need special help from God. We need to trust him."

Throughout his remarks, Chaplain Baldwin used the show "24" to emphasize how important it is to make one's days count spiritually because every day is important to God.

"If we want the day to count, we must live it for others," he said. "People in the military do that every day. Why do we send people to Minot? For others."

The chaplain said it was an honor to be here among the "frozen chosen," referring to the Airmen, civilians and family members here who endure the extreme temperatures of North Dakota winters.

"The folks in America do not realize what Minot does here," he said. "Battling the cold each day to go out to the missile fields and get B-52s ready to fly. You stand the watch, no matter how cold it gets."

Audience members later reflected on the chaplain's words.

"A lot of people come to Minot and count the days," said Col. Marty Whelan, 91st Space Wing commander, to the audience. "I think now we have a new way of viewing it here. As we go and work on our troubles and trials, we will find the truth."

As for Kimberly Washington, 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron, she was inspired.

"I've never thought about a day that way before," she said. "Now I've got a lot to think about."