“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.” – Psalm 46:10

After the long day at Busch Gardens we thought we would sleep in and then chill at the amazing Nauticus site, where the Battleship Wisconsin – “one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the US Navy” – is berthed.

We started by getting up slowly and relaxing at Tom’s home in Virginia Beach, where he and Rebekah’s sister Rachel raised their family. Then it was off to Downtown Norfolk.

What was planned as a quick tour of the massive battleship turned into an extended exploration. The interactive exhibits in the adjacent building are creative and informative, covering everything from the basic principles of sailing to engineering to container ships in the Port of Virginia.

There was something – many things – for everyone to do, including the easily distracted four-year-old.

The battleship itself is overwhelming in terms of power and size. The visuals are stunning and it is easy – and also sobering – to imagine scenes from war with guns blazing and the ship – with its complement of 1,515 crew – taking fire.

This is “A Big Stick”

I think of phrases such as Roosevelt’s, “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Well this, the Wisconsin, is a very big stick.

Part of our intention when we travel with the children is to tell the story. Not just to see impressive and wonderful things but to understand what they mean, and to learn where it all fits in this big and sometimes difficult to navigate adventure that is their lives.

The opening phrase of Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled points out that “Life is difficult.” It can be especially difficult for children, who have less agency – less clout – in the middle of forces and currents and challenges to navigate.

So we stand on the deck of a battleship like the Wisconsin, under the massive guns, and we tell them that nothing in this entire world, not even something like this, has the power to separate them from the love of God and the promise that, when we trust in Jesus, we can live in peace – and at peace.

I believe this with all of my heart – DEREK

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39