by khurst2@gmail.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Chaplain, News
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, News
“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, News
“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.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Jun 29, 2024 | Chaplain, News
Cadets from the Dominican Naval Academy, Vicealmirante César de Windt Lavandier
Recently, while underway aboard the USCGC EAGLE, I embarked on a voyage to the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. It marked my inaugural visit to these captivating lands—a dream I had long nurtured. Their vibrant cultures had always beckoned to me. And as I stepped ashore, the answer became clear. The sun-drenched shores of the Dominican Republic, the vibrant streets of Colombia, and the rich history of Puerto Rico – these seemingly disparate destinations became threads in a beautiful tapestry of Afro-Caribbean culture during my unforgettable visit. Each location offered a unique perspective on the profound influence of African traditions on music, dance, and even cuisine.
In the Dominican Republic, the herencia Africana, or African heritage, became evident in the percussion instruments – the resounding beats of the tambora drum resonated with a historical energy. Even the Dominican staple, mangú, a mashed plantain dish, whispered stories of Africa, with plantains being a staple food brought over by enslaved people. Meeting the cadets of the Dominican Naval Academy, the Academia Naval Vicealmirante César de Windt Lavandier, was like encountering living chapters of a shared narrative—a testament to resilience, culture, and the unbreakable bonds that span continents and generations.
Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia pulsated with a different kind of Afro-Caribbean energy. In Cartagena, the walled city resonated with the history of slavery. Here, we were greeted by the vibrant music of champeta, a genre born from the cultural gumbo of Colombian rhythms and African beats. The frenetic energy and the use of the llamador drum, a single-headed drum of West African origin, were undeniable testaments to this heritage. As I explored the bustling plazas, the sounds of salsa spilled out from cafes, a genre with deep roots in African musical traditions.
Puerto Rico, the island paradise, did not disappoint. The bomba y plena, a genre born from the struggles of enslaved Africans, filled the air with its powerful rhythms. The fast-paced drumming and the call-and-response vocals resonated with a raw emotion that transported me back to the roots of this culture. Even the vibrant colors of Puerto Rican cuisine – the sofrito base with its achiote and recaito spices – whispered stories of African influence on the island’s foodways.
I do not think it was a coincidence that I had this experience right before the NNOA and ANSO Joint Symposium. My exploration of the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Puerto Rico was a cultural immersion. Each place unveiled a unique chapter in the story of Afro-Caribbean culture, a testament to the enduring spirit and traditions brought over by enslaved Africans. This journey was a tapestry woven with the threads of resilience, joy, and the enduring human spirit.
by khurst2@gmail.com | May 6, 2024 | Chaplain, News
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;”
Psalm 118:22
Bob Marley – Cornerstone Story
I love me some Bob Marley. His music, his swag, his message…I love it all. May 11 marks 43 years since his passing, yet his legacy endures.
Bob Marley’s legacy continues to be influential despite his imperfections. He is almost revered as a deity. True fans understand the numerous challenges and hardships that shaped Bob Marley into the icon he became. His early life was marked by rejection and poverty. His mixed-race heritage made him feel like an outsider for most of his life. His father was largely absent from his life, with Bob only meeting him a few times. A pivotal moment occurred when Bob Marley sought assistance from his father’s family. Despite his striking resemblance to them, they denied knowing him, rejecting him outright. This rejection deeply wounded Marley and served as a transformative experience. He turned a painful moment into a source of inspiration, allegedly penning the song “Cornerstone” in response to this experience of rejection.
The cornerstone, a crucial element in construction, symbolizes unity and stability. It serves to establish the foundation, ensuring that the structure stands strong, and fostering unity by connecting two walls. Essentially, the cornerstone is the glue that holds everything together. Without this stone, the entire structure risks collapsing. In the same way, Bob Marley’s music served as a cornerstone, uniting people and providing stability in a world of chaos.
Bob Marley’s music was centered around unity and holding authorities accountable. He was a highly influential figure in Jamaica and the world during his lifetime. He is renowned for his efforts to reconcile two conflicting political parties at the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica.
Bob Marley on stage with Edward Seaga of the Jamaican Labor Party and
Michael Manley of the People’s National Party. April 22, 1978
Rejection is an inevitable aspect of life that we all encounter. It can lead to bitterness and resentment or inspire us to continue spreading love and positivity. Bob Marley experienced rejection, but he used this pain as a catalyst to elevate his name beyond his family’s reputation. In essence, Bob became the cornerstone, the pivotal element in his own life’s structure.
We are all confronted with a choice. How do we handle our pain? How do we respond to rejection? Do we let it harden us and breed bitterness, or do we use it as a catalyst for transformation and greatness? Always remember the stone that the builders refused will always be the head cornerstone.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Apr 3, 2024 | Chaplain, News
“Why seek the living among the dead?”
Luke 24:5
About 1,991 years ago, a group of courageous women arrived at a tomb with a solemn purpose: to anoint the body of their crucified leader. But they were in for a huge surprise. When they arrived at the tomb, they saw that their leader’s tomb was open, and his body was missing. As the women are shocked, confused, and afraid, they notice men in dazzling clothing. These men ask the women a strange question: “Why do you look for the living amongst the dead?” What a peculiar question.
I have a recurring dream of being in my grandparents’ house. In this dream, I am alone. I don’t know how I got there, where my family is, or when they are returning. Also, I am afraid. Around this time last year, I visited my grandparents’ house. I had not set foot inside since my grandfather’s funeral 25 years prior. I walked through the house. The rooms that once held love and life now seemed smaller, memories etched in their walls. I wandered around the house, hoping to understand my recurring dream.
How often do we return to our own places of fear and pain? Like a recurring dream, we revisit the scenes of loss, betrayal, or heartache. Yet, we find that revisiting ground zero doesn’t always fulfill our longing. The past remains, but we are called to embrace the present.
Just as the women arrived at an empty tomb and felt fear, I found myself repeatedly drawn to an empty house, my heart echoing their trepidation. The parallel is uncanny. Like the empty tomb, the empty house symbolizes more than physical space. It holds memories, echoes of pain, and unanswered questions. We return to these places of pain, seeking hope, redemption, and closure. Yet, we often find ourselves staring at remnants—the linen, the walls—wondering where the answers lie.
Why do we return to these empty places?
“Why seek the living among the dead?”
The answer is not within the tomb or, in my case, the empty house. It is outside, among the living.
It’s time to walk out of those tombs. The sun is rising, casting light on a new horizon. Fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, jealousy—they no longer define us.
In the words of Nina Simone,
“It’s a new dawn.
It’s a new day.
It’s a new life for me.
And I’m feeling good.”
