Years ago I noticed a canoe peacefully gliding upstream with a makeshift sail, a sheet attached to two poles. Since then, I have dreamed of sailing on the lake where my cottage is situated. About half a kilometer upstream from the cottage the lake widens to a good size. Where we are located, the lake is so narrow my husband and I swim to the opposite shore.
This summer my dream came true. We bought a used dinghy, the smallest boat we could find. Being second hand, it did not come with any instructions. As soon as my husband hoisted the sail, we eagerly glided with the wind to the large part of the lake. Soon we were near the narrows leading to another lake.
We had a serious problem, however. We had no idea the proper way to rig the sail. Before setting out, my husband had said, “I think they gave us the wrong sail.” Nevertheless we sailed anyway.
As we glided, I held the tiller with one hand and kept part of the sail out of the water with the other hand. An amusing sight! It was not quite so funny as we frantically paddled back against the wind for two and one half hours.
During the desperate paddle back to the cottage, I thought about Jesus and his disciples caught in a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Fearing for their lives, the disciples woke Jesus and cried, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Jesus ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet and still. Then he asked his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:35—41).
It is so easy to become burdened by the storms of life surrounding us. When you feel overwhelmed by hurts and troubles, remember Jesus. He is in control. He may not remove you from the storm, but he will give you peace, if you trust him. “Safe am I. Safe am I in the hollow of his hand.” My God is more powerful than the storms of life.
