In 2004 I was deployed with my Army Reserve unit to the US Army Hospital in Würzburg, Germany.

Better soldiers went to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Going to Germany had nothing to do with my fluency in the language or that I had studied and lived there. I was the chaplain of the 348th Medical Hospital, and that was that.

A family member who was ill kept my family from joining me.

After my own Christmas Eve services, I attended services at a German Lutheran church, St. Johannes. The pastor was my friend.

The music was excellent, and every seat was taken.

Christmas morning I went to Holy Communion there. About 40 of us experienced a more reflective service.

A family from my military congregation invited me to their home for a meal. I also called home and found my gifts had arrived in time.

Germany is highly secularized, but on the official 2 days of Christmas (the 26th also) nearly everything shuts down. Although far from home, I felt connected to my family and friends. That’s what Christmas is all about.