Published by A ship most closely represents my life-long faith journey. Some days this ship sets out in sunny skies and calm waters. How easy it is on those days to be thankful for all of God’s many blessings. I am tuned in to Mother Nature; I soak up the sun’s warm rays, and relax to the music of the waters pounding against the sides of my ship. I can take time on these days to notice all of the little things I most certainly take for granted at other times. I watch the sun set against the backdrop of the majestic sea. I see the orange and pink reflecting upon the waters as the sun performs its grand finale before going off to sleep. More importantly, on these days I am filled with faith. I am thankful for the faith I have that the sun will again rise tomorrow, and it will do so with just as magnificent of a display as it has shown today. I revel in the sea around me. It is so huge, and beautiful. I watch the reflection of the sun on the ocean’s purplish and black waters. I thank God for all of the many blessings He has so graciously given me. I sit back enjoying the feeling of God’s strong arms around me. I feel their warmth as they shelter me from the cool night breezes. I feel their security as they protect me from the many dangers of the open sea.
But this ship is not unsinkable. The sea is much more powerful than the ship. With enough force the ship could, at any moment, succumb to the power of the restless sea and sink into the cold, deep waters. It could be lost forever, even forgotten about, with just one fatal decision, one wrong move. Sometimes the knowledge of this feels so overwhelming, I begin to get really scared. I look out and see an approaching storm. The winds pick up, the waves become furious. The sky looks vicious with its black and gray billowing clouds forming a face, a mean face, with cruel eyes staring right through me. I want to swim away, fighting against the growing current. I feel tied down. I begin to pry God’s arms off of me. I need to be free so that I can swim madly for my life. I am angry. I am mad that it is so difficult just to stay afloat. I feel completely alone. I begin to look for someone else to rescue me. There is nobody there. There is no person brave enough or strong enough to venture out into the storm to come and save me. It is at this time I remember God is still aboard. Out of desperation and pure exhaustion I call to Him. Again He wraps His loving arms around me. I feel so ashamed. I beg Him to forgive me and I feel the peace of knowing that He has. I fall into His embrace and He shelters me from the turbulent waters. Once more I am thankful. Once more I am at peace. The winds die down. The waters rest. The ship and sea are again harmonious. My ship carries on its endless journey.
