If you’re not in the Chaplain Corps, you’re likely unfamiliar with the story of the 4 Chaplains. The story goes, on Feb 3, 1943 a German U-Boat fired torpedoes at the USS Dorchester. At this time, the USS Dorchester, which once was a cruise ship, was carrying 902 military personnel from New York to the European Theater of War.
Aboard this ship were 4 chaplains – the Rev. George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Rev. Clark Poling, and Fr. John Washington. Out of these chaplains, only 1 had been to war before. That is, until climbing aboard the USS Dorchester. So, Feb 3 – the Dorchester gets hit by the Germans. Ship goes up in flames. Chaos ensues. Personnel try to escape by jumping into the water. And where were the 4 chaplains amid this crisis? They were in the thick of it. Fox, Goode, Poling, and Washington had agreed amongst themselves that they would remain with the ship and provide care and comfort to the rest of the Soldiers. They passed out life jackets, including their own, so others could escape. Ultimately, these four chaplains died when the ship finally sunk. Now, one of the readings for today was John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This, of course, is an entirely appropriate reading given the selfless service displayed by these chaplains. But, today, I want to draw our attention to this idea of being able to rest in knowing that we are loved. Resting in knowing that we are loved. Chaplains Fox, Goode, Poling, and Washington’s senses of calm and steadfastness in the face of chaos didn’t just come from nowhere. Rather, they each were grounded in something larger than themselves. Without me knowing their exact theologies, I can at least assume that they each professed a sense of assuredness that they were loved. And, from this love, they were able to love others – through their sacrificial actions. This brings us to our reading from Romans 8. In our verses from Romans, we are told that: (1) We are children of God (2) The Holy Spirit sees our spirits, truly sees us (3) God loves us so much that God suffers with us when we suffer (4) God loves us so much that we will inherit God’s glory (5) and that nothing can separate us from God’s love. We are loved. I am loved. You are loved. The 4 chaplains, they were loved. The story of the 4 chaplains is an example of the beauty, goodness, and pure love which can come from knowing that, or resting in the knowledge of, that we are loved. And I know that sometimes it can be hard to feel like we are loved – especially when we live in a world which seems so defined by hate. However, when all else fails, my hope is that each of us can know that we are loved by God. Because, when we know this, when we rest in God’s love, we can be love for others. So, to take forward – consider what our world would look like if we each knew – really, truly knew, deep in our core, that we are loved. We are beloved. That we are held, embraced, and affirmed as God’s children. Would we see the humanity in others and the beauty of creation? Would we sacrifice for others? Would we be the calm in the face of chaos? May you find rest knowing that you are loved, and may you be love for others. |