Chaplain’s Column

Gracias por la cálida bienvenida a Tejas.

For both the reader’s sake and my own, that will be the end of my attempt at Spanish here; but I do so to illustrate both the challenge and the fun of landing in a new place.

The Navy moves us from one command – and sometimes one country – to another, and each time is an opportunity to “learn the language” of our new home. Sometimes we may be stationed where the native tongue is actually different from our own; but nearly always there are new personalities, new acronyms, new priorities, new culture and new a style to learn.

My wife and I have been thoroughly enjoying immersing ourselves in Texas, whether that means the rodeo, the BBQ, Latino phrases and foods, or a drive onto the Padre Island beaches.

The Bible frames this idea as the life of a sojourner: traveling through this world, but bound for an eternal home beyond. At its worst, that can mean we “are so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good,” in the famous words of Johnny Cash. But at its best, it means that we are determined to learn, care for, and love the land of our sojourn.

When Israel was exiled to Babylon, Jeremiah urged them to settle in and seek the good of that city, even as they looked forward to a return home. While our faith may look forward to a new heaven and new earth, God couldn’t be more clear about our responsibility to be good stewards of this world, for as long as we travel through it.

This is in the forefront of my own mind as I adapt to a new place; but it is an ongoing challenge for all of us to balance.

On one hand, we can become too focused on the next step in our journey to appreciate where we are right now. Whether we think of that next step as another duty station, another stage of life, or even heaven itself, we need to resist the temptation to give all our attention to the future.

Instead of dreaming of how good things will be someday, God encourages us to savor the beauty and blessings we enjoy here and now. Are you “biding your time” in your current place in life, just waiting to move on? If so, you risk missing out on the chance to love the sights, sounds, styles, and especially the people of your world right now.

On the other hand, we must remain travelers. Stagnant water breeds mosquitoes, and a stagnant mindset breeds boredom, hopelessness, and sloth. If we love the land of our sojourn, but we remain aware that we are just passing through, then we feel a natural urgency about enjoying our place, making it better, and leaving a worthy legacy when we go.

We are energized to love actively, by the anticipation of a constant movement forward. Knowing that we will not be here forever can make us more determined to make the most of today’s time and place.

God and the Navy have blessed me with the next three years in beautiful South Texas. I will learn the language, the culture and the quirks of this place. I will enjoy the change from infantry Marines to aviation Sailors, and will love and serve the people of this command, this chapel community, and this city. It is not my eternal home, but I am thrilled that it is my home for right now.

Join with me in joyful hope for the future, which spills back into genuine love for this place and this day.

WORSHIP SERVICES

ABOARD NASCC:

Protestant Worship Service

Base Protestant Chapel

Sunday Service: 10 a.m.

Catholic Worship Service

Catholic Chapel

Daily Mass Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 11:30 a.m.

Sunday Mass: 9 a.m.