Choosing Life

A Sailor came by my office yesterday to see me on her checklist of preparations for detaching from the ship. I was surprised--she wasn't set to transfer for quite a few months. But I put the pieces together quickly, and she revealed that she was transferring early because she was pregnant. Something you should know--when a Sailor discovers she is pregnant, she is essentially transferred off the ship almost immediately, as they cannot be on the ship past 20 weeks into their pregnancy. Usually, it is much sooner than that. They are transferred to a shore duty position and are an immediate and unexpected loss to the ship.

This isn't the first Sailor who has gotten pregnant while on sea duty. (For those not as familiar with Navy terminology, "sea duty" means you are serving on a ship, as opposed to serving at a shore-based command. You rotate between sea and shore duties every couple of years). There's nothing wrong or against the rules for a Sailor to get pregnant while on sea duty. You could say that it is "discouraged"--seasoned Sailors would say, "well that's what shore duty is for!" and might even frown upon those who get pregnant while on sea duty. You might hear some who say "it hurts the ship" or "it's selfish"...ugh, makes me want to scream. Yes--the Sailor is an unexpected loss, and their role and duties on the ship will have to be filled quickly. But life goes on. The Navy will send someone else. Someone will step up and take care of business. The beautiful reality is that, whether "planned" or not, this Sailor is bringing a new life into the world, and that is ALWAYS a reason to rejoice.

Anyway, this particular Sailor was one I really admired professionally, and respected a great deal more personally after this moment we had together. During her time onboard, she was a forceful leader among the female enlisted Sailors and really took charge of keeping them in line. She had a lot of experience and a lot of special skills vital to the command. She opened up to me, there in my office, about how she was sick of so many people telling her she had "other options;" that this "issue" didn't have to halt her career. She kept telling me, "I know God has a plan for this baby. I just know it." And although it is an inopportune time for her to have a baby, it is God's plan--and she was surrendered to it beautifully, despite the despicable commentary of some of her shipmates.

It is in little moments like this that I am really encouraged in my unbelievably secular line of work. Sadly, we've had quite a few situations like this on my ship that didn't end this way. So when these little victories come, it is a great blessing and such a wonderful reminder that God is here working--even on my crazy little ship. :-)