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I found myself touring my own ship today. Slowly pacing along, hands clasped behind my back and eyes tilted high in admiration for such modern beauty and skill. I came along a bulk-head that turned a sharp corner to the outside decks, and I could see beams of sun coming in from down the walk. I turned and started a smile as a group of three women came bristling by. My good-morning hale was cut short by the loud hack of throat as one of these women—quite publically—spit her morning wad of chewing tobacco into the cup she was carrying. My smile remained in feeble attempt to maintain etiquette until her shorter friend let loose a whirl of vulgarities that nearly made me faint! I proceeded to walk by and escape such class when their third—and obviously pregnant—friend half-blocked my route and said (in no short supply of obnoxious gum-chomping jaws) a very pointed “Good morning!” to which I replied out of frustration and desperation, “Get rid of that gum in uniform Sailor, and get out of my sight.” I then made haste for that beam of Sun, and having reached it in no sooner a moment, let loose a sigh of both relief and sadness; a longing for a bygone era bleakly clouding my heart…

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I have learned by now the truth of which the author of Hebrews so greatly teaches when he pens “We have this Hope as an Anchor for the Soul, firm and secure.” What happens when I put my hope in something of the world? When I wish or long for a time past; a change of culture or way? I end up like Paul, agonized with the burning desire to leave this place for Home, when he writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” When I put my hope in something that is man-made, something tainted with sin, they only thing I can be sure of is that it will fail me. And that hurts! I have seen far too many men and women come to grief and ruin because the thing or things they have placed their hope in—from the stock market to their careers to their spouse—have inevitably failed them. And the Christians seem surprised! I can understand the World; but my Brothers and Sisters? We know that these things will fail us! Mathew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That last sentence is key: Whatever you invest into—that will determine your return. How many men have I seen approach retirement in this job and begin to lose control of their lives? How many have received tattoos of their jobs or placed all their money into something or invested emotionally into their spouse only to have that worldly thing just, slip away? Their lives fall immediately apart and everyone around them is sucked in. Why not invest in something that you know will last? That “Anchor of the Soul” that keeps our hearts and minds secure?

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the Everlasting God; the Creator of the Ends of the Earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom! He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who Hope in the LORD will renew their strength; They will soar on wings like eagles; they run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31

My Hope is in the Everlasting, the Constant, the Secure. The World around me is going to the dogs, and all of us with it. The economy is failing, my job is failing, friends and family—we’re all failing. The battering of everyday media reminds me how depressed and absolutely depraved the World really is. Yet I say it again; my Hope is in the Everlasting, the Constant, the Secure. As great as she is, my own Country grants me Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. She comes close, but only my Great Hope can guarantee that; Contentment; Happiness. Only He can take all of me and keep me focused, strong and secure despite the crashing waves of darkness and uncertainty all around. What is it you place your hope in?
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How many times have I had the honor of working alongside great men who not only had pride in their ethic, but did the job well? How many times have I had the privilege of serving under leaders who knew the job, have been doing it for an admirable amount of time, and who took care of their people?

Often enough. And yet that is exactly who these men are. Their jobs. Their careers. They have been lured into the typical “Corporate Competition”, that ladder that they have since been compelled to climb for the rest of their lives; despising those above, and forsaking those below. I have seen men give their lives for these jobs, and maybe an afternoon, maybe, to their families. I have seen fathers feel the need to remain at work for the sake of face rather than support their 9-year old daughter at her choir concert. I have seen mothers bend over backwards for those at her job, and yet do it through flirting and manipulation while depriving her family of her love and attention.

Who are you? What is it that you define yourself by? Is it your job? Is it your money? Is it your power? Your connections? Your stuff? What safety deposit box are you using to house your very being?

Because you know what? All of that stuff will die with you. Today, tomorrow, 80 years from now. Gone. Faded. Forgotten.

Is that what you want? Do you want to be that guy or gal who is remembered by the financial inheritance you leave to your kids? Do you want to be that father or mother who was loved by friends and yet  grieved by his own family? Do you want to be that party animal that just risks it all, and could die before you finish reading this? Oh you had a great time I know, I’ve seen your fun Friday Facebook photos. But guess what? You’re gone. 6 feet under. Sure your Facebook page will live on until we can figure out your stupid 14-character alpha-numerical password and finally remove it. But that’s it. Done. Just like the 2 clicks it takes to delete your page, so your life will fade into the recesses of your loved ones’ grey matter. Buried under life changes, more weekend parties, family moves, adventures…occasionally slipping back to the forefront of their minds and yet only as the subtle after thought, “I wish he was…”

So. Who Are You? I don’t want to know what you identify with. Do you know why? Because things, those “whats“, they change. “What’s” Fail You. Identify yourself with my beloved Seattle Seahawks and guess what? Your identity will be let down. Identify yourself with this job in the Navy and guess what? You will get a tattoo of that job on your hand (no joke, he did) and when you retire in one year Chief, your identity will be lost. You will have no idea who you really are, and the outside world will not care. But guess who followed you through your full 20 year career and is also transitioning into the civilian world with you? Oh yes. Your wife and son, who have no idea who you are. See, when we place our identity as humans–as Tim and Ben and you Beloved– in a particulate something of this rotting World, it all rots away with it. It changes. It let’s us down, crushes us, fails us. We become slaves to seeking out the most stable identities–this usually being money–and seek to change our identities through wealth and clothes and cars and houses and colleges and life-long careers.  “How dare you even consider not going to College! EVERYONE goes to college!” “How DARE you even THINK about wanting to leave the United States Navy! This is ALL you have! This is what MADE you!”

And we end up forsaking those who truly love us. Those whom we truly love. And most importantly, we end up forsaking the One who Created us. The One that transcends our colleges and jobs and suits and titles. The One who only cares about 2 things; our relationship with Him, and our relationship with each other. He’s given us a great amount of years to focus on simply these 2 things. WHY are we wasting any more time and the resources He’s blessed us with pursuing anything other than these 2 things?? Everything in the Bible falls into one of those 2 categories!

So Who Are You? I don’t care what you do. I don’t care what your title is, or rank, or age. It’s not these outward adornments that define you as a Man of Character. It’s not these positions or places you’ve worked all your life to achieve that tell me what you have on the inside. Calling you Sir or Ma’am or Pastor or Mr. President does not mean you are a Man of Honor, a Man of Integrity.

Who are You? With Whom do you Identify yourself with? Let it be One that is steadfast, unchanging. That our identities may be anchored to the Rock Unmovable. That we may be strong in who we are, and certain of our Eternity.

I love you, Dearest Reader, and am praying for you often.
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THE DAYS HERE ARE EMPTY, and yet the clock keeps a fast pace. My fingers itch for something to write, almost as they think for themselves, rendering my heart or mind incapable of any sort of inspirational tangibility. Not to fret, Dearest Reader. A common theme has struck; Love.

I know I know; “Love, how many times have I read or heard about love? Give us a break!” Trust me, Friend, I would not be entering into such a cliche task had I not some curious thought I wished to share. No, not simple Love, Dearest, as in the affection of a trivial thing or adoring pet. Not a whimsical love of thought or ideals, nor an emotional love derived from an inherit human need to be valued. No my Love, this is the Love that loves so much so that it hurts.

Have you ever felt such a pure Love? You know, that crippling kind. The kind of love that makes my heart do the tango with my lungs! Have you experienced it? That totally debilitating love that just knocks you right off your feet? Pardon the cliche (and totally feminine) analogy; the latest Twilight theatrical–Jacob–takes his first look at the tiny girl who will eventually become the love of his life, and he his knocked to the ground.  Big and Powerful, he is no match whatsoever with that kind of Love. Have you felt this burning throb? Have you ever shared in the suffering of the Phantom of the Opera? Has your heart ever longed for that passionate sting which reminds you how much you are still alive?

How can one recover from such a staggering Love? You and I both know, Dear Reader, how many ways there are to love. You and I love each other you know. I would say our love is the fun and flirtatious love, that innocent love that brings joy to both our hearts. You know, the kind of love shared between Rapunzel and Flynn in the hit cartoon Tangled.

[Set new Aural: Walking in the Air by George Winston]

Alas Dear Friend, I am not writing about such an easily defined love. No my Love, perhaps I can portray her as a Child? Eyes wide to the World, a heart ready for growth! Remember those times? Your father would pick you up and spin you around so fast that the world became one big rainbow!

Remember those times Love? When your little finger would trace the outline of your mother’s ear, curious as you pulled and twisted it? Remember Reader, when you could run and run and run and when you could not go any farther, dad would pick you up and put you on his back and run for you? You would stretch your arms out to the sky and soar! The world was yours for the taking, and your love was described by your pure and perfect laugh! Ah Love, those were the days!

No Dear Reader, again that is simply not the love I am attempting to describe. Can such a love be communicated? Or is that perhaps the beauty of it–its mystery? More like an Abstract Masterpiece. There, but relative to the beholder. You may relate better to the following photograph. A Father’s Last Dance with is now married daughter. You see the look in her face. Is she anxious? Is she joyously sad? How does one describe such a love? He loves her so much, he has brought her up, fought for and protected her for the last 18+ years, and is now entrusting this ominous task to another mortal man. Everything she knows is wrapped around her at that moment. The Groom ceremoniously cuts in and begins a new dance. What painful Love! Such sting! Oh love, that your sting has been for purpose and that I may understand your painful touch!

Real Love, Dear Reader, does not come softly. Real Love is a drenching downpour–that instant moment between complete dry and sopping wet–that quick moment you catch your breath as you shift from one extreme to another. Do you feel it? That anxiety swelling up in your chest? Real Love is that “Oh My!” moment. The ones where you lost your breath, like getting sucker-punched in the stomach, doubling over and leaning on your lover. They can be quick; those brief moments that feel like hours as you search face after countless face at the airport terminal just waiting for your Love to emerge proud and tall. They can be long; a quiet evening you finally share with a boy you’ve sponsored for years as you watch the hot sun descend beyond the African continent. Real Love, Beloved, comes in the passionate form of those you share it with. And right now Dearest Reader, I’m sharing this with you.

I Love You, and am Praying for You.
Share our Love whilst we still draw Breath.
[End Piece: Pass me Not by Fernando Ortega]
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Beyond Traditions, there are set rules. And beyond set rules, there is simply the desire to follow a certain order of things, out of the longing in our hearts to be a part of something more meaningful, to belong to something greater than ourselves…

The traditional respect rendered the United States Flag and the National Anthem began at the close of the Civil War, as our great Nation once again came together under one banner. With World War 1 our brave serving men were instructed how to properly render arms and by the close of World War 2, these traditions were adopted as law, under US Code .

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1609

A more recent law adopted in 2008 granted the following set of standards: At the playing of the National Anthem; Uniform Service Members in uniform render salute. Out of uniform, Active Duty stand at attention. Veterans (anyone who has ever served during any time) in or out of uniform are authorized to render a Salute. Civilians place their right hands over their heart, males remove their cover.

And now you know! Pretty neat eh? Bit random, I know, and not at all what you were expecting from me after having not read a blog in a while…but it’s ok! I am back to blogging, so allow me to continue.

For a more extensive (and certainly more visual) scope on my life over the last half a year or so, please refer yourself to my ForeignFindings blog, located to your right (updates in 2 days) >> Or to my Facebook Album of Thailand (of which the UNESCO World Heritage Sight now lies underwater…)@ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2219358051059.128170.1460881340&type=3 or to the newest addition of my cyber family; http://www.flickr.com/people/whidbeymillers/ (also updates in 2 days)

Good Evening, Dear Reader, and Welcome to the Show.
So how have you been, Dear Reader? How have you held up this last year? It’s so funny, Thanksgiving is done and over!  Time flies so fast these days, and seemingly not fast enough. But how have you been? What have you learned about yourself these past months? How have you advanced physically? How have you grown emotionally? How have you matured Spiritually? It has been up and down for me. I have had some really depressing moments, but also some really great ones! And thankfully, my eyes have been trained to neglect the low times and focus only on the positive, the good. I am supposed to be getting orders to another Carrier here in the next couple of months, the USS Stennis out of Bremerton, WA. However if I end up not getting orders, and am stuck here, I have come to accept that as well. 1.5 more years, wherever the Lord has me, and then it will be living life from then on out!!

What’s that you ask? How am I? Where am I? All valid questions, Dearest Reader, but lest I bore you with an entire novel, allow me a summary here. Deployment through the Summer was alright for work. It went by fast actually. Skipped several ports (Guam and Australia) in lieu of more mission-critical assignments, which ended up getting us what the Navy calls a “Beer Day” for the entire crew at the 45-day mark. Sure, they were cheap Australian Beers, but they gave us 2 each, and the entire crew piled into the hangar bays for the day. Pretty much did figure eight’s all day. Then we hit Busan, South Korea. Again another beautiful place. Pattaya, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Those last 2 were during our winter Cruise, which just ended. A week before the ship was expected back to Yokosuka, Japan however, one of my young sailors slipped and cut his last 3 fingers down to the bone on the pier of Hong Kong. They did about as much as they could on the ship, and then I was chosen to escort him to the hand surgeon here in Okinawa, Japan. They launched us off the Carrier which was neat! We flew a couple hours to the Island, and have been here ever since. Looks like we may be here through Christmas too, if the Doc has his way. He is doing fine though, got his tendons and nerves back together ok, and he is doing therapy now.

What now? What has changed? Now that’s a story for another time. I have a million photos to upload so you all can bare witness to amazing beauty of Hong Kong, and other places around the world. In the meantime, here are some things you could pray for; Caden (the sailor) that his hand would continue to heal, I would have an impact on his young mind, and the Lord would work in his heart. My brother Ben, he just got all 4 of his wisdom teeth pulled, and he may be infected. Pulling teeth in the Army is bad enough. Pray for his pain and his patience. My brother Seth is still in Afghanistan with the Marines. Pray for his continued safety, health, and most importantly, his witness to his fellow Marines. My brother Nate graduates Coast Guard Boot here in a week or so, please pray for his heart, that he will have someone to keep him encouraged. Pray for his testimony and fellow brothers who he has been praying with. Please also pray for Stephen that he will continue to do well in High School and take his education seriously. Pray for his teen-attitude, and his growing heart. And lastly, pray for my orders, that the Lord’s Will may be done, and that I will be content with whatever comes.

I love you all, praying daily!
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Death – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

With improved medical capability, dying has become a condition to be managed. …

Yes Folks, that is exactly what the internet has to say on the subject. Perhaps though, you would allow me another explanation? Follow me if you will…

They say that a dying Star is one of the most glorious sights to behold. When, upon the final moment of its life it gives more energy than all of its life before, exploding inward in an astonishing array of flame and color. The heat and passion it produces is gone before you notice, and simply the light remains; that fading memory now fifteen-thousand light-years in the past filtering back to Earth…
Into the dark void they quietly go. No announcement, no wailing or applause or phone call. They simply inhale their final breath and blow it all out again into one massive display of radiance and beauty; a last salute to all the stars around them, a spectacular sight to the careless bystander on Earth. Oranges streak across the silent Deep. Yellows and Reds and fiery Greens shoot and spray and dance through the cold Blue. It Has Been, it Is, it Was. Did you know that many of the stars you can see with your eyes have actually already died? What you see is their Story. A string of light filtering back to our tiny little planet that gives some idea of what the star looked like. You notice those twinkling stars? The fiery explosions as they get more unstable and closer to death. We follow suit you know; Babies have the glassy eyes of new-birth and curiosity, and the elderly have the glassy eyes of age and Wisdom. What colors do we put out? What beauty or final bow?

I would not consider myself to be an emotional man. I hide it well, and play everything off. This is favorable when the times are tough, and one of us needs to be strong. This is favorable when the quick decisions need to be made, without the cloudy eyes of emotion. This is favorable when being emotional would only bring the other person or group down. This ability to hide my emotions does not help however, when a long courtship with a wonderful woman is ended and people presume that it doesn’t even phase me…

You asked what I am feeling. It’s hard for me to speak that, because I feel weak and whiny and pathetic. But I can write, so this is what I am feeling.

Physically, of course my body misses being by her side. Walking down endless neighborhood roads hand in hand. Going everywhere with her, doing everything with her. This is something that will change, in time. Spiritually, who was her equal? My Mom said it best; “There is a New Standard now amongst the Family—the Yukie Standard.” She is an amazing Woman of God, which is why I know and can trust that in time, she will let Him heal her. Other woman I may as well have thrown off a cliff or cut their brains out, for how frantic and emotional and insane they would have become. But not Yukie. She is strong in the Lord, and is one who claims the Lord as her Rock and Anchor. I will miss her passion, her unwavering Faith in God and to God, and her humble and teachable heart. This teach-ability is her Strength, and is something rarely found and truly most Noble in the heart of a Woman. And Emotionally. How am I emotionally? How is she emotionally? Spend some time with her and you will know my heart. She is the mirror image of me, the outward expression to what I keep as mine, save for one attribute; Relief. That is what I hold and where we differ. Not such an enormous relief as would lead one to think of our relationship a huge burden; but a relief in the sense that I ended our Courtship before we committed to engage or marry. As bad as this is now, I have learned and seen that it would have been much more painful had I stubbornly ignored my heart and proposed, only to her shock years later that my heart had not fully been in this from the Courtship. That would have been leading her on. That would surely have hurt immensely more than the ending of our Courtship now. As it was, I chose to love her day after day. The natural love that should be in my heart, was not. The natural excitement of going to propose, of making future plans, of including her in my day-dreams and of telling all this to others was simply; that excitement did not exist. Everything I did or said about us was more a statement, a matter-of-fact phrase that indicated a logical choice; not the deep and fiery passion of two Lovers. Not what should have been. Why? Am I such a robot that my analytical mentality overrides any and all implausible tendencies to Love? Certainly not the case, for then I would not be writing this, nor be concerned with feelings or heartbreak. I am though. So why? Why the absence of such a fantastic Love for such a Complete and Beautiful Daughter of the Lord? I would say part cultural difference, part emotional intimacy. Our cultures are different enough that the deeper communication level is not there. And this leads to a lack of emotional intimacy. Something we all need when we begin to “Bag, Sag and Drag” as my old Youth Pastor used to put it. Sure, we could learn to communicate and relate on deeper levels. We could learn, in time, to meet each other’s emotional and mental needs. Look at the Indian Culture. They are prearranged to be married and this whole idea of a Courtship to determine your compatibility is a luxury without. They must learn to love each other over time. Could this happen with Yukie and I? Absolutely. God is stronger than these minute human preferences, yes! This is something however, God has given our cultures through the art of Courtship. This IS a luxury we have. And until last week, I did not agree with that. My step-by-step brain doggedly pursued the belief that regardless of how one may feel, he must move forward and learn to Love as he goes. Where did this thought come from? Honestly, I am not so sure. I think I may have been under the delusion that a Christian man must feel like he is sacrificing something in order for the marriage to be right. I think I also have a little bit of what is commonly referred to in the Male Community as “Broken-Wing Syndrome” or a “Hero Complex.” That is, staying to our God-intended roots as a Chivalrous and Servant-based Leader and living such a quality of life as to be worthy of any woman’s respect; but taking it to the extreme by feeling compelled to not only rescue the Damsel in Distress but marry her too. And if Marriage is not something on her mind, then to love her and follow her to the point she says no. Which, as seen, can be very dangerous if she does in fact not say no, but rather an excited “Yes!” in which both parties begin to pursue each other until that Man realizes he has been loving her from Character rather than Instinct.

And so I find myself. In a rambling-on sort of way, I have looped back to the beginning—but taking notice—release this vicious cycle from “Repeat” and begin anew. For it is only in our Realization that we are capable of Change. Such is enlightenment I suppose. To be broad-sided from blissful dream into the sudden excitement of reality. Though no one ever said excitement was a good thing.  

Like the dying Star; she leaves me not in rage or worry. She does not shut down and gossip and ramble on and seek to destroy me or herself. Nay; she is a Child of God. A Precious Heart that leaves me looking on, drenched in bright colors and spectacular passions. A closing Rose that leaves me in graceful form and feminine beauty. She leaves me a vivid memory as she dances and filters back to my heart…

               Love is Patient, Love is Kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in Evil, but rejoices with the Truth! It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
               1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

These are all casualties of Love, however, when the two nearly-joined hearts are reopened and ripped apart. And so you find me, and my feelings a cold and dreary sort of company, forever the same and always in need of a true Savior,

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Good Afternoon, Graceful Girl. Mind if you dance awhile for me? In the meantime I will proceed to cripple your feet.

Good Evening, Delicate Rose. Mind if you stay awhile and unfold yourself to me? In the meantime I will proceed to strip you of your beauty, your dignity, your color, your smell, your pose–everything that defines you.

Good Night, Fragile Lover. Stay awhile, would you, and keep me warm into the night? In the meantime I will proceed to trample your tender heart. Why? Because that’s who I am, apparently. I’m that Man You Trust.
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“And So It Is” came from mind to heart today. Of course it would be that way. The single time I listen to my heart happens to be one of the most important decisions of my life. No matter how hard my logical mind fights it, my heart just will not give in. End Line.

“And So It Is.” That heart is broken now. Mend-able, praise God. But broken, crushed. Relationships set back. Direction lost. How do I feel? Who cares. That’s not important right now. End Line.

“And So It Is.”
End Line.

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Maranatha.

Just spin the Dial, move your piece.
This Life is Chance, or so it seems.

Then came one day, a single Man.
His Smiling face and outstretched hand,
Saying, “Follow Me” and “Then you will see”–
A Life more Real, His Life for Me.

This Man gave up his life that day,
A wooden cross, a cold dark grave,
So I could live–no–really Live!
Salvation comes, a Free Gift to Give!

He rose from the grave on that Third Day,
And now you know, it’s why I say,
It’s all a Game of Life we play–
Won’t you come on knees and Pray?
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Brown box, addressed to me, clear tape. The post-mark date read almost 2 weeks ago. Was it my Birthday gift from my Oma? Address…address…here! “Margaret Bezold”? What? Wow! She sent me a gift! I pulled out the little blue kids safety scissors I keep in my desk drawer. The rest of the office let out a small chuckle as I held them up triumphantly, ready to open the ordinary-looking square.

It was far from Ordinary. Wow! What the—stars? Cool! They have faces on them! Sharmaine? What? You’re in Washington? Stephen! He must’ve gotten the Peeps! The Twinz? Wow! Amiee? Others? Did I miss one? Jennifer COLE? You’re ALIVE? Margaret! What a true surprise! Look at all the pictures! Wow, these must’ve taken forever to make! And so many stars!!! Ooo, there’s CANDY HEARTS mixed in with them! Can’t let these go to waste…nom nom nom…*aheck!* DON’T eat the stars. Wow! What is this…Pick Up Sticks? Oh! Charades! Wow! Look at all these candy hearts! Toberlone?? Who got me this? Brings back memories ha ha…Wow look at all these pictures!!! And quotes!!! I wish Chief would let me stick these all over the office…Books? More Candy? Cards!!! OOo…I wonder how long I can get away with playing these before I get yelled at…ha ha. MAN I love these guys!

Man I love you guys. You actually sent me something, Margaret, and everyone pitched in! What can I say? My house is still standing. My car works now. I have most of my things still. I am not cold. I am not hot. I am not wet or battered or bruised. I am not missing anyone. I am not sick with radiation (that I know of). That is not the reason though, I have received such a wonderful care package.

Have been sent this ordinary box filled with extraordinary things from some of the Best People this World can Offer. Did you know that, Oh Lord? Did you know that when you designed little Margaret, that she would grow in beauty and strength, and that someday, she would fill a little box with little things that would travel thousands of miles to reach an old friend? Did you know, Precious Savior, that when you breathed life into little Stephen, that he would grow up in Wisdom and in Stature and someday would bless a friend from an Ocean away? Oh Father! Did you create those gorgeous little Twins and give them life, Jennifer that little bundle of smiles, that Mini-Popa and these friends that you have given to me… Did you know them from the Womb, raising them up into the Characters they are now so that someday, one day, they would fill a cardboard box full of Love and send it by plane through storms and over seas, that it may bring such Joy to my heart, that it might Bless me? You Alone are Good, Gracious God. How wonderful Your plan in all of this!

It may not have seemed much, Dear Friends, but what a box of Light it was! Surrounded by steel, gray, dreary wind and rain… Tossing here and there… Climbing ladder-well after ladder well to work 7 days a week from 0600-2200… Knowing full well the turmoil only a hundred miles away on the shore… Scrubbing down the decks and weather doors for Radiation… With threats of no pay, rumors of wars, sickness and daily briefs of real-world torture and slaughter in different regions…

What a timely thing, to finally receive mail and there be something there, something as wonderful as this, for me.

I miss you all terribly. Thank you so much.
You want to know what I did with all those stars? I put my towel around my head and danced around my berthing of 59 other dirty men with the box under one arm, and the other arm sending “Magic and Love, fellow Sailors!” I then began to sing “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket—save it for a rainy day!” as I threw stars onto everyone’s rack and into their empty boots. They hated me for days. As a matter of fact, I have found flattened stars as far as the galley…presumably tracked there by someone.

So thank you, again Dear Friends, for the Love. Thank you, very much.
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These are two of my 4 younger brothers. Ben, the 2nd born, is in the Army, Ft. Drum NY. Seth, the 3rd born, is in the Marines, 29 Palms CA. All three of us are in the United States Military, and because of this, are very familiar with the term, “Recall.”

This particular Sunday morning, I was fast asleep buried deep in the warmth of my mummy bag atop the mattress I have in my house, here in Yokosuka Japan. I was off work, planning on enjoying the day with coffee, AWANA Olympics practice, and church. My plans however, changed at about 0800.

My phone went off and I woke up to see a number I did not recognize. I answered and listened as one of my boys back on-board the USS George Washington filled me in. We were on a 96-hour tether. Wherever I was, whatever I was doing, I needed to stop, pack my sea bag and be on board in a few hours. I was Recalled.

In foreign ports, we call it “Papa.” A helicopter will fly above the city towing a “Papa” flag and the siren will sound off the Ship. In-port Yokosuka, however, phone calls and duty personnel will ensure everyone gets word.

I groggily rolled out of bed, rubbed my eyes and began traipsing to the office and begin packing. I was depressed. Not so much for my plans that were now ruined for the day. Not so much because I was getting ready to head out and beat up some Middle-East Knuckle-head. I was depressed because of it’s suddenness. “What?” you say, “Aren’t you supposed to be ready for this kind of stuff?” Yes, this is true. Being in the Military really IS a 24-hour occupation. It still goes well against my ‘planner’ side. One thing however, it did make me realize…

Just as my brothers and I could be “Recalled” at literally any moment, wherever in the vast World we may be, each and every one of us could be “Recalled” at any given moment; departing this physical world and asked to ‘give account‘ to the Great Commander in Chief. (1 Peter 4:5) I was racing around, packing, eating everything from the fridge, locking all the windows, (watering the cactus ha ha) and calling local friends with whom I could leave an extra set of keys. But then, I had a few hours before we were to be on-board and officially underway.

Do we have everything ready? Are our affairs and items of business in order? Our wills? Our finances, our keys, our memo’s and ‘last reminders’? And most importantly, our hearts. Do you know where you will be when you are Recalled? What are you waiting for? Any one of us at any given moment might receive a call with an unfamiliar number. I pray we all might recognize Him who will call us Home.

Love you all;
<><.