Essay: "Focus the Fire Inside"

by CAPT Francis D. Bonnadonna, CHC

Tragedy is more than a terrible turn of events.
Classically, it refers to a gifted person who is ruined
by a flaw of character. Of all the situations I’ve
encountered as a parish priest and Navy chaplain,
tragedies are by far the saddest. It is troubling to see
gifted individuals destroy, by their own actions,
the respect their hard work and dedication has
built. Sometimes stellar individuals with potential
to live life really well bring all their potential to
nothing. Instead of the “good life,” their success
turns to ashes.

In every person there is a hunger—an emptiness. The
ancients spoke of a fire inside a person kindled by the gap
between desires and the inability to satisfy
them. What one does with that fire, that
hunger, is spirituality. It shapes actions
and choices. Spirituality is not something
optional and esoteric, but is an essential
part of what it is to be human. As fire can
destroy or enrich life depending on how
it is used, so can spirituality either be
destructive or enriching. It all depends on
what we do with the fire inside.

St. Augustine believed we fail to live well when we love the
wrong things. Wrong things tear a person apart and are
destructive. Loving the right things not only integrates a
person and helps them be successful, it enhances and builds
their community.

Central to the idea of living well is the way in which the virtues fit together. Greek philosophy speaks of happiness —eudaimonia: literally the good spirit—as the outcome of living well. The classical virtues are temperance, courage, fortitude and justice.
Different cultures and traditions have added to these basic four. For instance, the ancient Romans added things like honesty and frugality. What is key is in order to live well, these virtues must be embedded in our life by practice.

When we love the wrong things, our lives come apart. That
disintegration impacts more than the individual. It has a
corporate dimension because it impacts our shipmates, our
unit and even our community’s mission effectiveness. In
this way, personal failure to live well has a strategic, or long
term dimension. Ultimately, it degrades our ability to protect
our nation. Throughout the last year, there have been many
tragedies in our military. Talented, gifted leaders have been
lost, not only to combat, but to loving the
wrong things. What has been the impact to
Sailors whose lives have come apart because
of loving the wrong things? The military family
is poorer for their loss.
Chaplains and religious program specialists
bring the resources of faith to help people
live well by loving the right things; the things
that integrate instead of destroy a person.
They are an enabling asset to help focus the fire inside. They
help you harness that creative energy and potential inside so
that you are spiritually healthy and contribute positively to
your families and shipmates. When you are spiritually healthy,
you live well and that rising tide lifts the whole community.
Your command religious ministry team adds strategic power—
not for an hour, but for a well lived life. Use them.