Chaplains on the River

Four a.m. on a Tuesday…wide awake…nothing hurting…nothing wrong…why?  I was in a motel in Channelview, TX after doing boat visits on Monday as Chaplain for the Lower Mississippi River Region.  It had been a good day.

A few minutes after four a.m….my Seamen’s Church cell phone rings…the answering service for our Ministry on the River toll-free number (800-708-1998) has a towboater on the line who wants to speak to a chaplain.

Being away from family for extended lengths of time is never easy.  That’s especially true when there is a problem or crisis going on in your life.  This mariner has a 12 year old grandson with terminal cancer in a Houston hospital.  Standing his watch in those quiet and lonely pre-dawn hours, the dark and gloom of a foogy early morning on the ship channel was matched by the heaviness on his heart.  We talked for about 30 minutes, and since I was in the area and had already planned to visit his fleet, we made plans to meet in person on Wednesday morning.

7:30 a,m,…dense fog in the Houston area on this Wednesday morning…As I made my way down a dirt road toward the fleet, I was stopped for a train to pass.  Looking to my left, I was blessed to see the most beautiful sunrise, dispelling the fog as a new day dawned.  As I visited with my new friend and his fellow crew, we could not help but understand that no matter how dark our lives may seem at any moment, there is always the hope and promise of a new dawning!

Your phone calls to your chaplains with Ministry on the River are never a burden.  You are the reason we are here…your chaplains are here for you!  May God guide and keep you in your travels!