Military chaplain publishes reflections from Afghanistan
CFB BORDEN, ON—A military chaplain has published his reflections from his deployments overseas in the form of a devotional.
Wipf & Stock published At Peace with War: A Chaplain's Meditations from Afghanistan by Harold Ristau in August. Ristau says he wanted to publish the book because he felt others might benefit from reading about how he has seen God at work in the midst of war.
"People often ask, 'Why do hard things happen in our lives?'" Ristau says. "God's still in control during those times, and He turns all things into good for those who love Him—and even for those who don't love Him."
Ristau was a Lutheran pastor in Montreal before he became a chaplain for the Canadian Forces seven years ago. He has been to Afghanistan twice.
The book includes a short prayer at the end of each devotional, and is dedicated to chaplains who have served overseas during times of war. It is also dedicated to war veterans.
Ristau says all of the money made from sales of the book is going directly to Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS), an organization that helps the poor in the Republic of Haiti. He chose HLMS to honour the work the Canadian Forces are doing there in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Ristau says that while Afghanistan may be experiencing war right now, there is still hope in the midst of it.
"God's love and grace is still there," he says. "It is present."
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