Last weekend I had the fantastic opportunity to cross Lake Michigan on a 62-foot sailing yacht. Wow! Chance of a lifetime! The boat simply needed transported from Holland, Michigan where it was stored for the winter to Chicago for the summer sailing season. Ted and I were part of the transport team. A last-minute cancellation from another crew member gave me the opening to join and I must say I struggled with my decision. What do I pack? What about all the stuff I was going to get done while Ted was gone and doing this boat transport/delivery? And most importantly, what if the lake gets rough with big waves and I get seasick? I love sailing, but I love sailing in favorable conditions. I DO get seasick from time to time.

I quickly decided that this was a chance of a lifetime, and I’d be a fool to pass up this opportunity. With similar speed, I quickly stuffed some clothes in a backpack, including some Dramamine “just in case”.

We left the dock around 7:30pm with the plan of sailing through the night. Why? Weather conditions were looking to be perfect through the night and with rain forecast the next day, the guys wanted to get the boat delivered before we would have to sail in stormy, rainy conditions.

The trip started out just fine with flat water and a beautiful sunset as we watched the MIchigan shore slowly disappear. As it became dark, Ted and I got tired and went below deck to lay down and sleep while the other guy stayed at the helm. I woke up about 1:30am and went topside to find that Ted had woken up as well and was at the wheel with everyone else asleep. He had woken up and offered to steer and take watch. It was dark, the waves were small, the air was cold and crisp, the boat only slightly heeled, stars everywhere, and the surrealness of being in the middle of Lake Michigan on this beautiful yacht.

It made me think. 🙂

How did sailors, centuries ago, figure out where they were and where they were going? A compass and the stars, I guess. All we had to do was look at the screen on the boat, and we could see exactly where we were.

Today’s technology also allowed us to take our trip in weather conditions we found favorable. Back in the day, the weather could turn without warning and the waves and rain could get pretty wicked. The boat we were on also had an auto helm – meaning that we simply could push some buttons and tell the boat which way to steer so that Ted could sit back and watch the sky, or the instruments, or even close his eyes while we sailed along. The night sky was beautiful. We watched the sliver of the moon rise. We could see the glow in the far distance of cities on the shore. If I squinted and look hard enough, I could even see tiny blinking red lights from tall pipe stacks, miles and miles away. The Chicago skyline appeared like Christmas light hours before we reached shore. It was breathtaking.

Back in Jesus’ days the sailors and fishermen were at the mercy of the weather and their crude and simple knowledge of reading the stars (when it wasn’t cloudy and they could see them) and maybe watching the shore (if it wasn’t foggy and they weren’t too far away) to navigate safely. They didn’t have any glow of lights.

Psalm 107:23-30 NIV Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

It’s no wonder that the bible has so many references to waves and storms and crashing waves. They could relate. When life is good, it’s smooth sailing. A life full of challenges is like being tossed by the waves. When things get really tough, the huge waves crash down, and you feel like you are drowning. Like a ship tossed in the stormy waves, life can turn upside down. You can have a life of poverty with empty nets, or you can be a prosperous fisherman with nets full. No wind or waves can keep you floating in the same spot, just as we can have stagnant times in our lives.

Sailors and boaters today have a great advantage over those of the past. We don’t have to navigate blindly with only a compass and the stars to guide us. We have our GPS, radar, weather forecasts, marine radios, and other helpful technology. However, we are still the same in that we live lives that face ups and downs (like rolling waves), feeling overwhelmed (like drowning), having no direction (being lost in the fog), fearing the unknown (unable to see the dangerous rocks near the shore), feeling stuck (having no wind or waves to move us), and feeling scared and hopeless (caught in the storm). As we face the crazy journey of life, we can share with men of old the same solution: Allowing Jesus to be our navigator; our captain at the wheel; our calm in the storm.

Matthew 8:23-27 NIV Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

We all have our ups and downs and challenges in our lives. If you are like me, I have better managed those times when I’ve kept close to my Savior – holding fast to Him. Letting Jesus navigate and steer the way for me always delivers me safely to the next shore.

Romans 8:28 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

After a long and beautiful night of sailing, we pulled into the marina on the south side of Chicago somewhere around 5:30am. We got the boat safely tied off, sat back and relaxed, and watched the skies explode with rain. The weather forecast was correct, but we made the trip before the storm!

May your day be one of smooth sailing, and when the seas get rough, trust Jesus to deliver you.

just Laurel