Sailing

Sailing Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass August 02, 2012

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. –Proverbs 1:7 NIV Sailing… maybe I have gone once or twice in my life. But I do appreciate the sleekness of the vessel and the fact that the wind is the power that pushes the sails. What I liked most about sailing was the sound of the wind and the flapping of the sails. Yes, it is hard work and I do admit that others were doing that. I was a spectator because I had no knowledge of what to do. So I appreciated the wisdom of those surrounding me that did the work and was appreciative and confidant in their understanding. That allowed me to enjoy the beauty of the moment. The wise sailors on board mapped the navigation which helped us to chart our course. They observed the weather and changing winds while staying clear of any obstacles that could harm us. It was amazing to witness the magnificent power of the wind over the water. Isn’t that how life is? If we choose to live a Christian life, we have our Bible as our guide. It is our navigation system and scriptures keep us from hitting the obstacles that life throws at us occasionally. The Holy Spirit is the breath that powers us through the fog, storms and high waves. Oh but if everyone chose to live this way… We were at a little marina last evening. It is specifically for sailboats and a few small ski boats are moored there. Some folks bring their boats in on trailers and drop them in the water. We marveled at the inexperience of one group of people trying to get their boat out of water onto their trailer. They tried and tried and tried. Other people came by to help guide and steer them, but they were not listening. They would do it their way. They blocked traffic and finally someone had to jump in to help and tow the boat, trailer and vehicle off the ramp. A lack of knowledge was their biggest obstacle. Some people get experience the hard way while others listen, look and learn before getting into deep water. The mistakes are often costly. If the tools are readily available to us, why not use them. If wise people seek friendship with us and want to mentor us on our journey, say yes! Seek the better way. We can weather anything if we know we are anchored in God’s love, protection and wisdom.