by khurst2@gmail.com | Jan 12, 2025 | Chaplain
“…The Lord does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
From 2019 to 2022, I was stationed in Norfolk, VA. My ship was at the end of a pier shared with three other ships. Many days, I walked the entire length of the pier, from the security checkpoint to the quarterdeck of my ship, in uniform, in broad daylight, with plenty of sailors around and not one single salute. It was as if I was wearing an invisibility cloak.
I watched as other officers were saluted and chiefs greeted. Some sailors looked me in the eyes and still did not salute. If I was greeted, it was often with, “Good morning, chief.” Why was the automatic assumption that I was a chief?
On another occasion, while walking past a group of enlisted sailors who failed to salute, the chief walking behind me saw this and tore these sailors a new one. I stood there looking at the genuine confusion on their faces, and I could tell they honestly had not realized I was an officer.
Maybe it’s because I look young. Yeah… that’s it.
I constantly wrestle with these moments:
- Is it worth the energy to correct one sailor when there are about 20 more I may have to correct?
- Will I be perceived as a power-tripping “you-know-what” if I say something?
- What should I do?
In speaking with some of my colleagues, I have learned that this experience is not unique to me and is all too common among women of color. The struggle remains the same.
Over Christmas break, I watched Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight, a movie about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black and all-female battalion, in World War II. As I watched the movie and witnessed these women’s struggles, it resonated with me. These women faced discrimination not only because of their gender but also because of their race. Their struggles during a period in American history where minoritized people had far fewer rights are not unlike those of minoritized people today. The women of 6888 served during a time when that type of discriminatory behavior was permitted. That was the culture back then. Eighty years later, the culture is nearly identical despite the advances. People treat you how they see you if they see you.
We are a quarter of the way into the 21st century. The time for a culture shift is now. In 2025, it should not be an anomaly to see people of color serving in leadership positions up and down the chain of command. In 2025, we should be at the point where we respect the rank, regardless of who’s wearing it. This culture of picking and choosing who and when to respect must end. In 2025, we need to be at the point where minoritized people in leadership are not the exception but the norm.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Dec 24, 2024 | Chaplain
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3
This message was delivered by the prophet Isaiah during a time when the people of Israel desperately needed a message of hope amid hopelessness. They were living in Babylonian exile, their place of worship had been destroyed, and many of their people had been carried away into captivity.
In a nutshell, they were defeated, depleted, dejected, and rejected.
Just when they felt all hope was lost, the Lord finally gave the people a word of hope that let them know that this would be a momentary affliction. It will not always be this way. Better days are ahead. Isaiah told them that the Lord had not abandoned them and was mindful of their suffering.
This holiday season, no matter what is going on in your life, remember that there is always hope. The turnaround is coming. As you wait for the turn-around, remember others suffering and be to them what you wish someone would be to you. Who knows, perhaps the Spirit of the Lord is upon you to proclaim the good news and bind broken hearts.
In the words of Howard Thurman –
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
Howard Thurman, The Work of Christmas, 1944
by khurst2@gmail.com | Nov 11, 2024 | Chaplain
“Then the Lord answered me and said:
‘Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.’”
(Habakkuk 2:2-3)
When the prophet Habakkuk wrote these profound words, he was experiencing a spiritual crisis. Questioning the goodness of God, Habakkuk observed his home in turmoil and felt a deep sense of hopelessness. He desperately needed a message of hope due to his experiences and the loss of faith he endured. In his despair, he cried out to God:
“O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’
And You will not save.
Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
God’s response to Habakkuk’s lament was unexpected:
“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.” (Habakkuk 1:5)
When faced with discomfort and uncertainty, our instinct is often to seek immediate answers and relief. We are reluctant to endure the waiting period, preferring to jump straight to joy. However, this is not the way life unfolds. Sometimes, we must learn to wait and trust, believing that “this too shall pass.”
Life is marked by seasons, and in times of waiting, we are called to trust in the process. As God assured Habakkuk:
“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”
In our waiting, we find strength, patience, and renewed faith, trusting that the appointed time will come.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Chaplain
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though you may stumble, you will not fall, for the Lord upholds you with his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
I’m tired. I’m more than tired. I’m worn out. I don’t drink or smoke, but I have strongly considered taking up both vices these past few days because I feel burdened, like a heavy weight is on my shoulders.
It feels like when you do back squats. The weight sits on your shoulders and pushes you down, and it is a struggle to stand up. To do it correctly, you can’t rely on momentum to get up. You must control the weight, which means your legs, core, and back must be strong. If you want to make it a full-body workout, then you do an overhead squat, which entails holding the barbell over your head and then going into the squat. That means your arms must become stronger. Typically, you do a couple of rounds, gradually increasing the weight of each round until you reach your max. When you reach your max, your next goal is to surpass that.
This workout hurts. You wake up the next day thinking you need to be in traction. But the interesting thing is, if you consistently work out, it only hurts for a few days. The pain is a sign that you are getting stronger. And the stronger you get, the easier it becomes to get up.
The same is true for tests and trials. They come to make us stronger. But the only way we can get stronger is to keep getting up. Each time we pass a level, we become stronger. When we feel stuck on a level that requires more training to build up our muscles. The more you train at that level, the stronger you become until you can stand back up without straining.
Keep standing up because that’s the only way to get that weight off your shoulders.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Sep 7, 2024 | Chaplain
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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 13:4-8 (NIV)
The year is 1992, and I am in the car headed to school, listening to the radio. Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” comes on, and I sing my little elementary school heart out as if I could relate to what Mary was talking about. I could not. Thirty-two years later, it seems Mary still hasn’t found that real love she sang about.
What is real love?
Despite the countless songs, movies, books, and TV shows about love, the current divorce rate in the United States, which hovers around 42%, suggests we aren’t getting any better at it.
What is real love?
Recently, my father was hospitalized and had to undergo surgery. While visiting home, I watched my mother faithfully tend to him. She only leaves his side when my sister or I are with him. Now that he is home from the hospital, she continues to work tirelessly caring for him. Years earlier, after my mom had surgery, he did the same for her. This past June, they celebrated 54 years of marriage, having known each other since elementary school. This is real love.
Real love is the way my grandfather cared for my grandmother while she battled cancer. Even after she passed away, he gave instructions on how she should be dressed at her funeral.
Real love is the way my uncle cares for my aunt, who is currently battling cancer. I watch him sort her pills and ensure she stays on schedule with her medications. He makes sure she eats right and rests as necessary.
Real love is the spouses of our wounded warriors who faithfully stand by their partners, even when they may not physically be who or what they used to be when they met.
This is real love. It’s not “that Jada and that Will love.” It isn’t lust confused for love. It’s not sunshine and roses every day.
Real love is “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.” Real love is loyal.
Looks and limbs may fade. But real love never fails.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Aug 8, 2024 | Chaplain
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;” Ephesians 4:4
I love the Olympic games. I remember the excitement I felt as a child when Atlanta, my hometown, hosted the games. Muhammad Ali lit the flame and Celine Dion sang! It was beautiful! The games are inspirational, and they have this supernatural ability to unite our nation.
I get inspired and want to be better and do better. Sometimes I get so inspired that I think I can go out and do what the athletes, who have endured intense training, can do. But then I bend over to put on my shoes and get winded and see stars. That’s when I hear the words of Biggie, “It was all a dream.”
Our nation is experiencing a remarkable time, marked by both division and unity. The Olympics inspire national pride amidst a politically charged climate. Our athletes come from diverse backgrounds. Yet, they are united for the common purpose of representing our nation in superior fashion.
In this context, the NNOA-ANSO Joint Symposium is a significant milestone, uniting two Sea Service organizations for the second time in their history. This gathering, focused on advancing leadership, feels divinely appointed.
I believe these events are interconnected, reflecting a broader theme of oneness and unity. Just as our Olympic athletes unite behind a common goal, we too are called to come together as a nation and within the Sea Services.
Let us harness our individual strengths to build a stronger, more cohesive force. We may come from different backgrounds, but we share a common purpose.
One team. One fight. One love.
