Monthly Archives: May 2023

Observing Memorial Day underway on deployment eliminates the opportunity of observing it in the manner for which it originated. I shared this prayer on Memorial Day to tell the story of how the holiday came to be as we know it, since we all tend to be better at enjoying the holiday than understanding whatContinue reading “Daily Prayer, Memorial Day”

The Navy depends on very young Sailors to do very big things, and often to make some consequential decision. So it trains them well, then trains them again, then trains them some more. Drill after drill after drill. The constant training is meant to produce a familiarity with proper procedures so intimate that when somethingContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 27 May”

Tonight, I want to tell you a story about a guy named Peter Jackson, though probably not the one that you’re thinking of. The man I have in mind was born on July 3rd, 1861, on the island of St. Croix in the Dutch Virgin Islands. He left there when he was 17 years oldContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 26 May”

When the Gentle Giant strode to the mound on that afternoon on May 15th, 1918, he didn’t know what was in store, but he expected that he had his work cut out for him. The White Sox were the defending World Series Champions and were likely to give him trouble even without “Shoeless” Joe JacksonContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 25 May”

One significant difficulty faced by young Sailors is the product of one of the benefits of modern technology. Because of satellites and computers, our deployed service men and women can stay in touch with their family and friends back home. Even in the middle of the Atlantic they can access email and Facebook and communicateContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 24 May”

Days when we had refuel and repleneshment at sea were long days for everyone, including the chaplain. Yet, I would take every opportunity to pray with and for my crew that I could, even if, like on this day, it was only to tell a quick story and pray a psalm. I like this story,Continue reading “Daily Prayer, 23 May”

One thing I noticed in my time on the ships is a general fear of taking the initiative. It may not really be any more widespread than when I was a junior sailor, and it be the same everywhere, but it is a problem. Growth and accomplishments are both stunted when good and capable peopleContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 22 May”

Frank Jones could tell a storm was coming, so he rushed his evening chores, and even turned the horses out to pasture without feeding them first. He had barely gotten back into the house when his wife told him “There’s a cyclone coming.” She had seen it on the hill south of the Hoskin’s place.Continue reading “Daily Prayer, 20 May”

It seems to me that talk about GOATs in sports is limited to basketball and football, though once in a while in baseball you hear about the greatest hitter of all time. What I never hear about is an NHL GOAT. Maybe that’s because it is almost without dispute that Wayne Gretzky is the greatestContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 19 May”

When deployment after deployment is conducted without significant incident, crews begin to think nothing can happen, which was the primary failure of the crew of the USS Stark. Thus, we often offer reminders of just how dangerous our work is, and particularly that work in the places where we deploy. One of those places, byContinue reading “Daily Prayer, 17 May”