I have arrived at Chaplain School in Columbia, SC.
To say a word or two about ODS in reflection:
It is much harder than I anticipated, but only for the first week or two. The last two weeks we were rarely yelled at, and did little corrective PT. What was challenging was how tired and worn out my body became after very little sleep and doing PT very early in the morning. Despite this, the last week--with firefighting, and the sinking ship simulator--was a lot of fun.
And on to Chaplain School. The accommodations are infinitely better than ODS. I have my own room, which is quite spacious, and a king size bed. At ODS, we were staying two men to a spacious closet.
In that I haven't had a chance to really figure things out here, I will hold on an assessment beyond the room being nice. In some ways, we are very free, and in others we are definitely being treated like students in military training.
Finally, on to the title of this post: Mission. I am committed to and proud to serve as an officer of the United States Navy, believing our mission is to be a global force for good. As one also committed to Christ's mission to proclaim peace, I hate that militaries exist in the first place; but I am also mindful of events like 9-11 and the intent of others to extinguish our liberties and very lives if they could. If there must be war, as a defense of our right to live, then those versed in peace and the words of truth and light should be at the forefront providing a moral framework and ministering to those who carry the awful burden.
A story from scripture has been on my heart the last few days:
Certain Jewish elders once came to Jesus, asking that he heal the servant of a Roman Centurion. Of the soldier, they said to Jesus: “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5). Now I don't know if they would say this of every Roman soldier, but it is likely that this particular commander was good to the local population and had won their respect. In any event, Jesus did not deny ministry to him or his servant. He did not say: "No, I cannot minister to someone associated with war; I will not minister to the household of those who occupy us." Instead, finding the Centurion's faith great, he praised him, and then healed the servant.
In these verses, I find peace.
