One of the nice things about being a chaplain is that the Sailors will often let me participate in some of the work that they have to do. Not all of it, I found, because it seems there are just some things that a Sailor won’t let any officer do. But walking around and checking on them, they seemed to appreciate that I wanted to help them out when I could. One of the ships I deployed with left the U.S. just before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. We left when things were normal, and spent much of the initial months of the pandemic afloat. The Navy didn’t want to risk the virus coming aboard so we spent a US Navy record 206 days at sea without touching land. Most of the time we couldn’t even see land. It probably doesn’t take much to imagine the tension of being away from one’s family when something like COVID-19 is going on back home, but add to that a months-long marathon of standing watch, conducting the maintenance required to keep everything working, and the grind of training and drills meant to keep the crew sharp while on deployment and you have the making of a difficult, wearying experience. I’m pleased to report that our Sailors made it through with astonishing poise and professionalism. Sailors are good at looking through the difficulty to its end, knowing that most things pass eventually. Sometimes they get worse, but usually they get better. “Embracing the suck,” they call it. It’s a skill I think we should all develop, especially those of us who know that God is in control.
It was a beautiful day for a RAS today, and the deck crew was kind enough to let me help heave around with them to bring across the messenger and the span wire. It’s hard work, and I’m not surprised that they’d want to share it since many hands make light—or at least lighter—work.
Appropriately concerned for safety, I was instructed to wear a kapok and hardhat during the evolution, which I did. It wasn’t the first time that I’d worn a kapok, but it has been a while. The list time I did they were bulkier, made of cotton, and filled with natural fibers. The fibers, in fact, are where kapoks get their name. Kapok is a natural fiber found in tropical tree seedpods that resembles milkweed and have a coating that makes them buoyant.
The problem with using kapok, or any natural fiber, is that natural fibers tend to break down quickly in water, so they must be enclosed in waterproof pouches which used to be made of waxed canvas until plastic was developed and became available for use. These days, though, what’s called a kapok is entirely synthetic and likely to last longer in the water than you or I will.
This has been real progress of our civilization that we devise better and better safety equipment, processes, and procedures, so that these days we’d be horrified if even one man died during the construction of an office building, let alone the five deaths that didn’t even slow the construction of the Empire State Building.
Americans, because of our energy and ingenuity are now safer than we have ever been. We live longer, healthier lives than we ever have. Yet, in spite of this, we feel collectively as if the bottom is falling out of the tub. And then along comes something like COVID-19 that seems to confirm our worst suspicions. The reason we feel insecure is that we have forgotten where, and in Whom security can be found. We put our trust in things that we know—if we take any time at all to think about it—are likely to let us down. I trusted my kapok would keep me safe even if I were knocked unconscious into the water, because I know it’s designed to roll me face-up and keep me afloat until my shipmates can fish me out. But even more than my kapok, I trust in God, who, as the unmoved mover of the universe, is solid ground that will never shift under my feet. He is an ever-present help in time of need. In fact, He’ll be around even longer than a synthetic kapok.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, You are in all places and fill all things. Help us to rely on You as our sure foundation and shelter us under the protection of Your wings. Drive away from us every enemy and adversary and make our lives peaceful so that we may enjoy the true safety which is found in the fullness of communion with You. For You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life of all Your servants and it is You we ask and in Your name we pray.
AMEN
An Orthodox Priest Abroad 