Gentlemen,

June was a watershed and culmination month for me in many ways.  It was a time of accomplishing hard things and thus staying in the battle to develop my sons, and my entire family, into godly young men and women.  Let me share what happened to me, not in a boastful way, but to share life lessons as one man sharpens another.

First, I completed my Commercial Pilot’s License training and FAA check ride.  This was the culmination of a more than two-year process with many ups and down (pun intended!).  Three months into my commercial training, while executing a training maneuver, I collapsed the nose gear upon landing.  This was an expensive, time-consuming repair and a real blow to my confidence of ever being able to fly faster, more complex aircraft.  Three months later the airplane was airworthy again; however, other students had priority with the instructors at ALERT, and my training was again delayed.  There is a natural learning decay curve in flight such that the longer between lessons, the more rust you collect.  Bottom line, it was only two months ago that the airplane, instruct, and student (me) were all available, ready, and capable of putting in some serious practice.  I brushed off the rust, took a deep breath, and put in the hours of practice.  I achieved a successful check ride.  The lesson of my flight training is one of persevering when the obstacles come and of showing determination to complete the task.  My sons were watching to see how their father would handle the adversity.  Would he take his own advice and stay in the battle, or would he say it was too hard?  By God’s grace, I stayed in the battle and finished the task victoriously.

Next, is the battle of the bulge, or maintaining physical fitness during the aging process.  Caleb from the Old Testament is my hero from Joshua 14:10-12, where he says, “…I am this day fourscore and five year old.  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me (to spy out the land); Now therefore, give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day.”  I would like to be able to say that at age 85 I am as strong as I was at age 40, as was the case with Caleb.  Knowing this desire in my heart, my sons decided to help me.  For Father’s Day they installed a pull-up bar in my garage, created an upper body and abdominal workout checklist, and enrolled me in a 10K (6.2 miles) run training program!  I am grateful for them and their concern for their father.  I also know the work it will take for me to keep up with Caleb.  What will I do?  By God’s grace, I will take on the challenge, improve my physical fitness, and earn the Physical Fitness Excellence ribbon at 52 years old.

Last is the challenge to lead well the ALERT Cadet organization even in the midst of challenges and obstacles on many sides.  The last three monghts have seen me on the road more than 75% of the time.  With increased membership also comes the need to have systems and people in place to handle the additional workload.  The seven ALERT Cadet Captains who serve with me are doing a tremendous job, but with our growth we are all unable to keep up; we need additional leadership.  The challenge from those around me is to see how I will deal with the issues.  Will I work in my own strength or serve from God’s strength?  Will I push my own plans, or will I allow God to set the ultimate timing and degree of success?  There is a constant battle to properly discern God’s will in the running of this organization, and I pray that I will succeed in it.

While none of the situations above are striking in themselves, and I’m sure you could make your own list of accomplishments and failures in the last 30 days, it was striking to me to see God’s hand in it all.  When things became hard, and I wanted to quit, there was this still small voice saying, “Stay in the battle; lean on Me; finish well!”  While I am grateful for my family’s support and the encouraging cards, letters, e-mails, and comments I receive on the ALERT Cadet program, I truly desire to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Master.”  In this way I will know that my labor has not been in vain and that I have accomplished the work God had for me on this earth.

Men, stay in the battle.  Finish the race.  Complete the work which God has set before you!  Do it for yourself, for your young men, for your family, and for those who are looking to you as an example of what a godly man does and who he is.

In Christ,

Major Roger D. Farr
ALERT Cadet Commanding Officer