As you may or may not know, in days long past, I served aboard U.S. nuclear submarines. There are lots of sea stories that I can tell. There are lots of questions I am asked about life aboard a submarine: how a submarine operates, if I did this one thing or another, but when I think about it, not too often do I get asked how do we know where we are going when we are underwater. There are lots of interesting questions that can be asked about submarine navigation while underwater. For example:
- Why don’t we run into other submarines? Or undersea mountains? Or whales?
- Do we ever get lost?
- How can submarines navigate without windows to see where we are going or GPS? Are we operating on educated guesswork? Do submarines have Google Maps?
The oceans are really big – you only see the surface. There is lots of space under the waves and there are not that many submarines, so it is not crowded. Besides there are imaginary highways of a kind and submarines get assignments. For example, “operate on Interstate 95 between exits 450 and 520 on this date, during these times” – and you know that you will be the only U.S. submarine there. So… just stay in your lane.
Of course, how do we know where the highways are? We have charts, inertial navigation, we can come to periscope depth to get a satellite fix, and we have other means that are top secret. And if nothing else works, we can, like navigators of old, take a fix on known stars and do the mathematics to obtain a celestial fix.
That’s how we know where we are, but how do we know what’s around us? We can come near the surface and raise the periscope or the optronics mast and see what’s there. Or we can stay submerged and listen. That’s right, listen. It is called passive sonar and especially trained sailors that use their ears and computers to analyze what they are hearing.
Submarines were super interesting back in my day and even more interesting now.
In just a little but we will conduct the “Ceremony of Light” when the soon-graduating 8th grade students “pass the light” of leadership and example to the current 7th graders, who next year will assume the example of moral and spiritual leadership among the student body. As such the reads for this special Mass talk about being the light of the world, not hiding your light, shining before others, and more.
The 8th graders shared their thoughts on the ceremony. Everyone wrote about the passing on of leadership, responsibility, and setting examples for the student body. There were some other comments that were insightful:
- Handing on the light was a marker in time: the end of adolescence and the first step into taking deeper responsibility for how life will turn out.
- Handing on the light is a passing on of hope. Hope realized in our time at St. Francis and hope for the new future we are entering.
- Receiving the light is an act of commitment for the 7th graders. When you receive the light you are making a commitment to leading a holy way of life that will shine before students, teachers, staff and family.
To the 8th graders – thank you for your shining leadership and example. Soon you’ll be moving on to high school where you will observe the students in the upper class and see the light of their leadership and example. Pay attention, take notes about good examples and leadership and that which is, shall we say… not so good.
7th grader, the light is being passed to you: hope, holiness, and the responsibility of holy leadership. Be ready to receive the light and shine brightly.
And you might be wondering, how does all this connect with things “submarine”? I think submarine navigation adds new dimensions to living a Christian life – be it freshmen in high school or as 8th graders.
- Like submarines, always remember to stay “in your lane.” You are part of a structure of leadership: the principal, staff, teachers, family. Take the best of their shining example and put it to use in “your lane.” And remember that structure has lots of experience.
- Like submarines, there is more than just “seeing.” Listen. As leaders you need to know what is required and what is needed. You can certainly ask (that akin to active sonar) but you can also listen (like passive sonar).
- And when you are not sure what to do, come to periscope depth and look for directions. You can even celestial navigate because you have the bright shining stars of the experience of teachers, staff and parents.
Submarines can find their way in the darkness of the ocean’s depths by using all the tools available to them. Freshmen in high school and 8th graders can find their way in the coming new years. Use all the tools available to you: observe, listen, navigate, stay in your lane, and never hesitate to use the greatest resource of all: prayer and the Holy Eucharist. May you continue to well navigate adolescence, be the light and hope for others, and continue your commitment to holiness. Do these and your light will surely shine for all to see.