Over the past few months, I seem to have drifted away from the original purpose of this blog, and I owe my readers an apology. My mental health has been in a very difficult place lately. I was unexpectedly triggered by news stories involving the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS George Washington, and other vessels. As part of my recovery, I am doing my best to stay away from military news for now.

There was so much good in my military career. We helped people, served communities, and built bridges of hope. I am grateful that the Chaplain Corps exists and for the many chaplains who faithfully serve others. Unfortunately, some experiences I had with a few individuals during my service remain a trigger for me. Their actions affected me deeply, and that is one of the reasons I have found it difficult to attend church. To be clear, this is not a reflection on all chaplains. In fact, some of those negative examples have even been used as lessons in chaplain training on what not to do.

For the foreseeable future, this will be my last post about my military career. I have decided to seek therapy and focus on healing.

The positive outcome from all of this is that expressing what I had bottled up inside helped me stay sober. For that, I am grateful. If you or someone you know is struggling during this season, reach out to a shipmate, battle buddy, trusted friend, family member, counselor, or therapist. You do not have to carry those burdens alone.