It is really interesting and quite amazing for me to sit back and look at what all has happened over the last 15 months in my life. I started off 2007 as a department head on a submarine in Pearl Harbor and today I sit as a Navy Chaplain Candidate who just completed his first year of seminary. So a quick tour of this period:
Terminal Leave and a trip to Kauai (First time after over 6 years in Hawaii)
Learned to surf (The day before I left the island for good)
Traveled across country
Found out I got into Duke (I left Hawaii no knowing where I would eventually live)
Lived with the parents for a summer
Sold two houses and bought one
Spent two weeks at Montreat Youth conferences
Participated in the Duke Youth Academy for Christian Formation
Began Seminary
A year of Volunteering at the UNC Children's Hospital
Two trips to LA for ordination requirements
Re-commissioned as an ENS in the Chaplain Candidate Program (From an O-4 in the Sub force)
Ran a Marathon (My 5th)
Preached my first sermon ever
Taught a confirmation course for my internship
Participated as a Chaplain candidate in a commissioning ceremony
Visited my home church in Hawaii for ordination requirements
Now I know many people have much more happening in their lives, but for someone who had the Navy routine governing my life and really limiting everything to what happens on the ship that we can't discuss, this is a huge change in life. I am back off to Montreat again tomorrow to work with those amazing High School kids for two weeks starting the cycle again. I am amazed at what has happened in my life over the last year or so and can't wait to see what happens in year two of this journey of mine. I knew it would be something special and amazing to pull me away from the submarine force and it has not disappointed.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Travelling Adventures
What a long day. You know it is not going to be good when you arrive at the airport and your flight status shows a delay of 2 hours and that is only tentative. Apparently there was some problem with the plane while still on the mainland and the plane hadn't left two hours before my scheduled flight. When I got to the kiosk it said see the agent. I see her then get really worried. She complains about no available flights and disappears for at least 10 minutes. She comes back and says my two options are: 1) Fly out at 9:30 to Salt Lake City and then on to Cincinatti and then to Raleigh arriving 8 hours later than scheduled, or 2) Leave Honolulu at 3:42 the next morning arriving in Raleigh 10 hours later than scheduled. I chose option one as I had already checked out of my hotel and had turned in the car. Delta also waived the fee for the extra bag and gave me some money for dinner. Needless to say, it was a long day.
It was a great week seeing and talking to many old friends. It was odd going back to Hawaii as a visitor. I haven't done that since 1995 and my Midshipman cruises. I did get to play golf and acquire the obligatory sunburn due to my own stupidity as I am losing my hair and need a hat now. I got all the necessary things done while out there and now am one step closer to the goal of ordination in two years. Time to get some sleep.
It was a great week seeing and talking to many old friends. It was odd going back to Hawaii as a visitor. I haven't done that since 1995 and my Midshipman cruises. I did get to play golf and acquire the obligatory sunburn due to my own stupidity as I am losing my hair and need a hat now. I got all the necessary things done while out there and now am one step closer to the goal of ordination in two years. Time to get some sleep.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sunny Day
The VOG finally lifted for a day out here in Hawaii yesterday which was vital as I played golf with an old XO. This was the first day I have been out here that the VOG was gone. This is essentially smog due to the volcano on the Big Island that is 100 miles away. The normal trade winds shift from the East and we get light winds from the South that blows in all the smoke from the volcano. This makes the islands very hazy, humid and hot similar to a summer day in the South. As it was bright and sunny finally, of course I didn't put on enough sunscreen so I will suffer for a few days, but any day golfing is really worth it right?
All my meetings are done here and I just have to pick up some uniforms, pack and fly out this afternoon. It was a great trip that accomplished a lot but also allowed for some serious relaxation for the first time since August.
All my meetings are done here and I just have to pick up some uniforms, pack and fly out this afternoon. It was a great trip that accomplished a lot but also allowed for some serious relaxation for the first time since August.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
What a Difference a Year Makes
I landed in Hawaii yesterday afternoon to meet some ordination requirements at my home church here in Honolulu and noticed many differences in the last 14 months. I walked down into Waikiki and hardly recognized the area as almost every store has been torn down or remodeled. I couldn't believe the amount of construction in that short period of time. It seems that the culmination of a vow to clean up the tourist areas is almost complete. Additionally, I noticed a really encouraging trend in the larger number of street performers in Waikiki. They all seemed to not really harass the pedestrians as with other big city performers. I really enjoy these performers as they add life to the city and add some interesting diversions as you walk.
Another change was noticeable at my home church. Late last year most of the young adults left to plant another church near downtown. This was distinctly noticeable last night at the young adult gathering at my home church, there were only 15 people there as opposed to the 200 or so that met weekly before the church plant. Their leaving was not a wholly bad thing, just some thing noticeable as I only recognized three people from the previous group. I am curious to see what the makeup looks like at the worship services on Sunday.
All this has me thinking, what has changed in me over the last year(besides gaining weight). I am not even sure if I would notice the changes as I am constantly and slowly undergoing the changes. Really, most change is subtle and slow such that it can only be observed from a distance. Looking at the results of the changes in Waikiki from that distance and seeing what a bunch of little changes can do, imagine what could be done in our own lives and the community over time through small and meaningful changes. Just a thought.
Another change was noticeable at my home church. Late last year most of the young adults left to plant another church near downtown. This was distinctly noticeable last night at the young adult gathering at my home church, there were only 15 people there as opposed to the 200 or so that met weekly before the church plant. Their leaving was not a wholly bad thing, just some thing noticeable as I only recognized three people from the previous group. I am curious to see what the makeup looks like at the worship services on Sunday.
All this has me thinking, what has changed in me over the last year(besides gaining weight). I am not even sure if I would notice the changes as I am constantly and slowly undergoing the changes. Really, most change is subtle and slow such that it can only be observed from a distance. Looking at the results of the changes in Waikiki from that distance and seeing what a bunch of little changes can do, imagine what could be done in our own lives and the community over time through small and meaningful changes. Just a thought.
Friday, May 9, 2008
That time of year
I am not real sure how this post will come out as it is the first one, but I'll give it the old college try. Now that I have finished school for the year and survived the first year of seminary I thought doing the blogging thing may help friends keep up with this crazy journey of mine that started a few years ago.
As for the meat of this posting, it is that time of year for commissioning all the new Navy Ensigns and Marine Corps 2nd LT's. This will go on for the next few weeks in rapid succession all across the country. I reminisce on this as today I had the honor of not just attending the Duke NROTC commissioning ceremony, but I actually was invited to participate in this momentous event for 8 young men and women. I delivered the invocation and the benediction at Duke Chapel of all places. The whole experience was truly humbling, especially when bringing up memories of my commissioning as a line officer 12 years ago next month.
There is something absolutely magical about sitting in Duke Chapel. The large and magnificent stained glass windows, the amazing architecture, etc. Though it was not used in the ceremony, I highly recommend sitting in Duke Chapel, or any large gothic chapel, and listening to the organ in the middle of the day outside of any service. So that was the scene, but the real powerful part came from being tasked to pray over men and women that will face combat within the next year. It provided a sense of necessity for making the prayers relevant and encouraging for these young adults that have chosen to serve something greater than themselves. I probably put a great deal more time into preparing the two short prayers than many others I have crafted at worship services over the past year. I think the prospect of actually being part of the "official party" and the fact that I would speak at Duke Chapel made me a slightly nervous even knowing that the words would most likely be forgotten in short order.
The whole experience really was affirming in that I know I am truly called to military chaplaincy. I have experienced many other small events such as this over the past few years confirming my call to ordained ministry, but this was the first time where I participated in a military function such as will become commonplace in my future. I just hope that I still get chills up my spine and slightly nervous in these occasions as I do every time I stand up to preach, pray or otherwise proclaim God's word to people.
To the Duke NROTC class of 2008: Fair Winds and Following Seas.
As for the meat of this posting, it is that time of year for commissioning all the new Navy Ensigns and Marine Corps 2nd LT's. This will go on for the next few weeks in rapid succession all across the country. I reminisce on this as today I had the honor of not just attending the Duke NROTC commissioning ceremony, but I actually was invited to participate in this momentous event for 8 young men and women. I delivered the invocation and the benediction at Duke Chapel of all places. The whole experience was truly humbling, especially when bringing up memories of my commissioning as a line officer 12 years ago next month.
There is something absolutely magical about sitting in Duke Chapel. The large and magnificent stained glass windows, the amazing architecture, etc. Though it was not used in the ceremony, I highly recommend sitting in Duke Chapel, or any large gothic chapel, and listening to the organ in the middle of the day outside of any service. So that was the scene, but the real powerful part came from being tasked to pray over men and women that will face combat within the next year. It provided a sense of necessity for making the prayers relevant and encouraging for these young adults that have chosen to serve something greater than themselves. I probably put a great deal more time into preparing the two short prayers than many others I have crafted at worship services over the past year. I think the prospect of actually being part of the "official party" and the fact that I would speak at Duke Chapel made me a slightly nervous even knowing that the words would most likely be forgotten in short order.
The whole experience really was affirming in that I know I am truly called to military chaplaincy. I have experienced many other small events such as this over the past few years confirming my call to ordained ministry, but this was the first time where I participated in a military function such as will become commonplace in my future. I just hope that I still get chills up my spine and slightly nervous in these occasions as I do every time I stand up to preach, pray or otherwise proclaim God's word to people.
To the Duke NROTC class of 2008: Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)