LifeBoat

Most likely, the phrase ‘true north’ is a familiar one.  It’s meaning, however, might not be as familiar, especially in this age of digital and satellite availability. A compass was a necessary instrument for generations of travelers, hunters, military, and seafarers. It has always been, and will always remain, important to have a solid sense of direction for any of those vocations. True north never changes. True north is a fixed point and is trustworthy. Face it and find a renewed sense of direction. Return to it when lost or off-course and it will always lead us home.

GPS, or as I like to call it ‘Satellite Sally’, has rarely given the best directions. One time, it insisted that the car must turn left onto a farm lane running parallel through a field beside he country road. So, I finally turned off the road (just to discover what would happen), drove through the field for half-a-mile till the lane rejoined the road, and laughed hysterically when Satellite Sally then insisted that I should make an illegal U-turn and go back again! More often, in my experience, the GPS maps a straight course based on major roads which might or might not be the best route, nor the shortest, and seldom warns of road blocks or dangerous situations.

True North – Our Lord – the One Who never changes, never fails, and always leads us home. Trust Him, Jesus, to point us in the correct direction, no matter how lost or off-course we might be. Look to Him Alone, seek His Way, trust His Will, believe His Word.

There are storms in life which seem to roll in behind us and tip our boat almost on its side. Life is much more fun when the sun is shining and the waves are gentle, but we all experience those sudden events of disastrous portions. Major illness has affected too many people we know and love, tragic accidents change a life or take it, extended recovery brings slow progress, wrong decisions or the selfish decisions of others can devastate a life and family unit. What do we do? How do we survive? Where do we turn to steady our course? Jesus can always calm the storm but sometimes it seems we must ride that horrible wave too long! It is not easy to face the storm and head into the waves, even when we know that is the only choice. He will see us safely through the storm!

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Same boat – just a bit of a course adjustment! This LifeBoat is still sailing but an updated name and information seemed to be needed as I move toward a new adventure. I will add new stories of encouragement or thoughts about new things which I am learning.

With a love of local history, I enjoy hearing the stories attached to the people who were vital members of each local community. Families supported each other as they began businesses, farms, schools, churches, and the towns where we each live or work.  Many generations adjusted to great change as they arrived from other countries, literally sailed across oceans. Their hard work built this nation and we dare not neglect what they provided for each of us.  Is your course adjusting also? Stay in the boat with others, we can do this together!

 

Summer sun warms the soul as well as the body and the days seem to stretch slowly while those rays linger far into the evening.  Then, seemingly all too suddenly, cooler days with less hours of sunshine are upon us! Autumn arrives with different activities to fill our shortened days. Even the choice of nourishment changes from easily available fresh varieties to the variety of soups or meals prepared ahead for the freezer – and I know many still do some canning! – with the excess or end-of-season crops. Winter will follow with joy or dismay for all of us. The shortened, sometimes very dark days, too often with bone-chilling cold and blustering weather, must be endured. Of course, Spring will show up eventually, as well, to bring fresh bursts of happy colors and brighter days return to cheer our spirits. It is difficult to adjust to changes in nature and in life, but adjust we must if we are to continue in our growth. Our physical and emotional needs change as we move through each of life’s seasons; our preferences for activities or nourishing food choices or our comfort level in each situation will change, also. Our need for spiritual nourishment is a constant, though, in all of these changes. Don’t neglect faith as part of life’s changing seasons! What we have learned through personal seasons of life’s experiences are meant to be shared and used to encourage others in whatever season they find themselves. Hold on to your faith, as tightly as that last leaf holds onto its tree, until the end of life’s seasons.

Where we live in southern PA,  the lushness of this summer has been remarked upon by many people. Compared to the past few years, this year seemed to be a bit more balanced with sun and rain. Oh, the spring season was saturated with too much rain which delayed the farmers in various ways but then there have been pleasant days of sunshine. The flowers thrived and the green is amazingly rich. God’s creation of life is astounding! Yes, we also had a vicious heatwave and the typical storms. The rainbows after the storms are also amazing! Life’s journey is similar, is it not? When the storm breaks or the heat of the situation cools, it is good to be refreshed by the beauty of God’s promises and the peace of knowing that the life is easier when we remember His wonderful plan for all of Creation.

 

We love birthdays when we are young and when we celebrate someone else’s special day.  It is fun to watch our children and grandchildren, or anybody’s child, in their excitement when they get that special gift they were hoping to receive. Of course, if their expectations exceeded reality for that year and they experience disappointment, it is interesting to watch them discover that the other gifts can be even better.

As we grow older, it seems more difficult to appreciate our own special day for whatever reason gets in our way. Instead of being thankful for another year of blessings, we only see that larger number. Without another birthday, where are we? Obviously, not alive.

Each year of life brings blessings and opportunities which, hopefully, are received with joy.  Each year of life brings disappointments or reality-checks. Each year brings growth in some measure – either physically, emotionally, or in wisdom and knowledge.  Rejoice in those celebrations! Another year of life means another opportunity to witness God’s grace and love.

Although we might want to slow time or turn it back to ‘better’ days, God brings us through each day and year with blessings abundant and love eternal. Best Gifts ever!

When I saw this fun little sign on a shelf the other day, I had to take just a few moments in front of it to think about the significance of these three simple words – Refuse To Sink. Wow! Debbie Reynolds in Unsinkable Molly Brown (a favorite old movie/musical and a favorite actress/singer) immediately came to mind; the story was based on a rags-to-riches-to-rags-again-survivor of the ‘unsinkable’  Titanic shipwreck. She started with nothing, found true love, came into a fortune, had it all and the ‘friends’ who attached themselves to her, lost it all – fortune, ‘friends’, love – and managed to survive the sinking of a ship which was not supposed to be capable of destruction. In the end, she was the one who could not sink, could not be destroyed, and she even regained her love and her priorities. She refused to allow the cruelty of false friends, life events, or emotional turmoil to sink her spirit for more than the occasional moment, and survived it all with an attitude of determined hope. I suppose the three words on the sign says it all.

  What does it take to be sea worthy?

Becoming followers of our of Lord Jesus, we sail out from our spiritual baptism with a new confidence in our direction.  We do well for a period of time but, invariably, we find ourselves battered by a storm or two.  One storm at a time might be manageable but successive storms certainly damage our vessel to some degree.  Take time to rehaul the  physical vessel and refresh the spiritual.  A short time in dry-dock can make us more sea worthy than when we first started out.

 

Beautiful summer day, sun shining, breeze moving, quietness reigns, water is calm, no reason to be in a hurry – those days seem few and far between as we go about our ‘normal’ routines.  It is nice to just float once in awhile.  Focus on breathing, listen to the subtle sounds of nature which are usually masked by the noise of modern life, concentrate on where God is leading us. When the waters are clear and smooth as glass, it is easy to see the direction of our life boat, so we calmly float and enjoy the scenery.  When the waters are clear and smooth but there are obstacles ahead which must be navigated, we loose that calmness very easily, do we not? The water is still calm, the life boat remains steady, the scenery is just as awesome. Just continue to float for awhile longer. The Lord is still guiding the boat and He knows the obstacles in our way. He will tell us when to grab the oar and row again as we move past the rough places. Go ahead and float when we can, it helps to restore balance and brings clarity.

Not ever having been on an actual sailboat but having a basic understanding of the important elements, I believe that the Keel must be the foundation of how everything works together to prevent tipping over and to navigate in the wind. As I refreshed my mind with some of the information needed, I learned that the keel is the first part of the boat which is built and the day that the work begins is the beginning date for the vessel.

The next information that I needed to understand is how to ‘steer into the wind’, because, apparently, it is best to zig-zag.  The keel provides the resistance to the force blowing against our vessel as we navigate choppy waters but, without that stabilizing foundation, there is no hope of moving safely on nor of reaching shore.

What is our ‘keel’? What steadies our course in life? What provides the resistance to persevere on the choppy waters of our daily experiences? What keeps our vessel moving toward our destination and zig-zagging when we must steer into the wind?

Our Keel is God’s Holy Spirit! Our earthly vessel is rudderless until the day that our spiritual journey begins with Jesus as our ‘navigator’.  His Spirit is breathed into our sails and He sets our course.  Sail on with confidence – even if we need to zig and zag!