There were a few noteworthy places I called “home” and there was always a comforting feeling as I approached the familiar neighborhoods.
One such place was San Diego from 1981 through 1982 when I was serving in the Navy attached to Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center Pacific (FLEASWTRACENPAC). The base was a small upscale facility that was across the street from the more spartan Recruit Training Command (NTC).
For two years that base in San Diego was my home away from home. It was always a sad thing when I had to embark on the nearly 500 mile drive from my parents home in Palo Alto to report back to the Navy. Then I had time to collect my thoughts as I made to usually solo trip in my 1971 Dodge Challenger, counting the miles between towns going down Interstate 5 and then the Grapevine which lead to the I405 passing Santa Monica and Long Beach where I had treasured memories visiting friends on other weekend excursions.
As I neared the San Diego area, there was a sense of resistance wanting to prolong my leave time, but without fail, I would pass the familiar hills, passing La Jolla and then entering San Diego proper taking the Sports Arena Blvd turn off to hit Rosecrans which took me virtually all the way to my little 4 or 2 man barracks room where I lived.
I was at home again. It wasn’t the place I grew up but it was an important place where I had many friends who were in the multi-course Submarine Sonar training pipeline. It was an important place where I grew in my professional training preparing to serve on some yet unknown navy submarine.
Leaving my parent’s home to return to duty onboard the USS Bremerton (SSN-698) required that I take an airline, often from San Francisco Airport to Honolulu International, and there would be the same emotional transitions until finally I settled back into the submarine crew barracks in the presence of yet another group of friends and shipmates who served on the same submarine.
Then… there was the unique experience of calling this nuclear powered Los Angeles Class Fast Attack submarine home, which was an out of this world experience. It was aboard the USS Bremerton where my shipmates and I served in this 360 foot marvel. At the time, she was on one of the newest and most sophisticated vessels ever created. Bremerton was designed for high speed endurance, with advanced sensors and a multi-situational attack package that made the Lucky 698, popularly known later as the “BadFish”, one the deadliest and most capable warships in the Navy’s arsenal.
photo source USS Bremerton SSN 698 Commissioning Program
Unlike the missile submarines, the even larger Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) carrying behemoths, the fast attacks would make port calls for either maintenance and upkeep or for the treasured liberty run. A liberty run is when we pull into a port just for the “Navy Adventure” of traveling. I had the opportunity to ride the Bremerton to several Pacific Rim ports, from Bremerton, Washington to Singapore, Chin Hae, Korea, to Sasebo or Yokuska, Japan, Guam, Subic Bay, Philippines, and last but not least, Hong Kong.
In each of these places, the submarine would be along side a Navy pier or submarine tender (a big repair and maintenance facility ship) and the familiar sights and sounds of submarine life provided the crew a welcomed and familiar surrounding. Whether it was inside a “rack” (the compact and spartan accommodations where sub crew members slept and stowed their personal items) or the crews mess, where the Mess Specialists would often have some reliable meal ready for all of us who were not acclimated to foreign foods.
Once we were underway punching holes in the ocean running on nuclear power, however, our “home” took on a spectacularly different aspect. It became a privileged working environment, the realm operated by submarine qualified officers and crew, in defense and in pursuit of the national interests of our country.
The submarine service is called the Silent Service, not only because submarines are noted for their stealthiness, but because operations of submarine are not to be publicized for divulged to another outside of the need to know.
This sophisticated relationship elevates the navy fleet submarine to a well deserved status of being called home for its officers and crew. A submarine is not only the place we performed our professional service but it was the unique vessel that, from within, we relied on and trusted its ability to protect us from the ever-present destructive forces of the ocean.
Unlike the 3505 World War II US Navy submariners who were killed in the 52 submarines that were lost, virtually all of my Bremerton shipmates of the Cold War Era, as far as I recall, left the service to return to civilian life, where we made for ourselves another home (or homes, if moving or changing status a lot).
Throughout all of our lives, most of us have the privilege of calling a place that we live “home” and yet, even if we live 100 or more years, our time will come to an end. No matter how well we take care of ourselves, or how lucky we’ve been, we are all destined to leave this place where in many instances, we have called home.
Where does God call home?
You may be surprised but in part, God makes his home in believers. The eternal and omnipotent God makes his abode within you and me? Yes, if you believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior. Read what Jesus taught:
“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. – John 14:19-24
God provides a dwelling for His people
I will not venture to post an image of what a heavenly dwelling place will be like, but I am certain it will be much better than anything we can imagine. I am just as certain that serving a Lord with infinite wisdom, heavenly life will never be boring.
Also in John 14, you learn about how our home or “dwelling place” (some Bible versions refer to the same word as “mansions”) are being prepared by Christ Himself for our eternal abode:
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. – John 14:1-6 (Legacy Standard Version).
Waiting for our eternal abode
To truly be at home, we must feel a sense of harmony with the environment that we live, to live and work in places that we identify with. The place we call home is usually the place where we possess our citizenship. Our homeland tends to stand for what we believe. Our home is best when it strengthens our being, reinforces our values, and upholds the standards we live by. We can achieve much peace and purpose when we know our home is surrounded by loyal fellow citizens and protected by a government that has our best intentions in mind and in heart.
Even in the best of worldly circumstances, our earthly physical homes can be subject to accidents, natural disasters, and wear from age. Our earthly community and government are subject to self-serving attitudes and corruption.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church at Philippi as he expressed compassion for those believed they were of the Church but lamented their unrepentant acts of idolatry, a worship of the fleshly, material and worldly desires. He knew that true satisfaction comes within the glory of God’s kingdom.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by His working through which He is able to even subject all things to Himself. – Philippians 3:20:21 (LSB).
Are you comforted knowing that you have a home secured for you in God’s kingdom?
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
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12.23.23