From June 1974 to June 1977, I was aboard the USS Rathburne (DE-1057), homeported out of Pearl Harbor. During a long deployment to the Western Pacific, we spent time off the coast of Vietnam assisting with evacuations. By May of 1975, we were more than ready to head home. Sea bags were mentally packed, and I am fairly certain some of us were already tasting the first home-cooked meal. Then came news of the Mayaguez incident. Just like that, our plans changed. Instead of sailing home, we were called back into action. It was not exactly the announcement anyone wanted to hear, but every man stepped up. We turned around, sailed toward Thailand, and prepared for whatever might come next. The ship we had hoped would carry us home suddenly carried us back into tension, uncertainty, and duty.
That experience has a way of repeating itself in everyday life, though usually without a ship or a uniform. We all have moments when we think we are finished with something difficult, only to find ourselves pulled right back in. We expect smooth sailing, but instead we are handed another assignment. It may not involve international conflict, but it feels just as real when the phone rings at the wrong time or when a problem refuses to stay solved. Like those days in Subic Bay, there is often a pause where we think, “Really? Again?” Yet something steady rises within us, and we move forward anyway. Life has a way of reminding us that we are not always in charge of the schedule. Just when we think we are heading home, we are told to report back to the deck. It turns out that readiness is not just for sailors; it is a daily requirement for everyone.
The apostle Paul the Apostle understood this tension well. Writing to the church in Philippi, he expressed a deep desire to “set sail” for his heavenly home, saying, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He admitted, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,” yet he added, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account” (Philippians 1:23–24). Paul was ready to go home, but he recognized there was still work to be done. In a similar way, Jesus Himself spoke of purpose in the midst of delay, saying, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day” (John 9:4). The call to remain was not a punishment but a mission. Until the final call to set sail comes, there is still meaningful labor ahead, even when it feels like the ship has turned around at the last minute.