| Author | Message | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5728 Registered: 9-2006  |
I had never handled a large fishing vessel, until I got it in my head, I wanted one, I made the deal, and came the day for me to take delivery of the boat. The person I bought her from agreed to captain the boat to the harbor where I had elected to moor the boat. I showed up that glad morning, and we got down there to shove off, I loved the sound of the powerful diesel engine, the vibration through the floor of the boat as he expertly threaded it through a narrow channel, and then on out to open water. On the way he explained the auto pilot, the three steering stations, the six fuel filters, and a barrage of other equipment on the boat. We soon got to the channel that led to the harbor; he expertly threaded his way among the other boats, and brought her to a full stop at my dock. I was home with my boat, we shook hands, and he turned to go his way, and I was on my own. I spent the next couple of days becoming familiar with the boat, and then on the third day, it was time to take her out for sea trials. After much backing and going forward, I finally go the boat out into the channel between the docks. All of a sudden, the channel looked twice as narrow and the gleaming boats tied there looked twice as expensive as they did before, I knew if I hit one with a boat that size, I was in trouble. I was the captain, I was responsible. After some close calls, I headed her down the narrow channel that led out to open water, praying that no other boat entered that channel before I cleared it. I just knew the harbor master was sitting in his glassed up deck, the hangers on laughing as I clumsily maneuvered my way out of the harbor, but I reached the end of the channel without mishap, and I felt better out in open water. I began to maneuver the boat, aiming the center of the bow toward some land mark on shore. I would turn the turn the wheel and the boat would keep on going, then slowly respond to the rudder, then keep turning past the point I wanted to go. I would then panic and turn the wheel hard over the other way, then after what I thought were countless seconds, she would begin to turn and pass clear through my mark. I steered her a couple of hours, I would over compensate, and the boat was like riding a giant beast as I sweated at the wheel. However, I eventually began to get the hang of it, and could do a fair job of keeping her on point. I dreaded trying to maneuver her back through the narrow channel, and between the docks to my dock. I wanted to stay in open water where there was no danger, but I knew I had to bring her in, so I set my face resolutely toward the harbor, resigned to whatever was my fate. I slowly entered the channel and soon found if I went too slowly the current would take the boat toward shore, so I pushed the throttles a little forward. As I rounded the bend and into the harbor, it seemed like I was going much too fast, so I reversed the prop full astern and the boat slowly came to a stop. I thought, ‘How in the world will I ever get this boat between the docks in such a small harbor?’ However, after many trials and errors, I managed to nose the boat into my dock without hitting anything except to give the dock a good resounding thump and taking some paint off the bow of my boat. My face must have looked very stormy, because no one in the harbor masters office said a word as I walked in, I probably looked like I could kill at the least grin. I eventually learned not to over compensate, and I was soon able to bring her in and out the bustling harbor, nose her into the moorage, jump off and tie her in one smooth motion. I thought of that part of my past today, and I thought, ‘How like that is the former Adventist as he makes his or her way out of Adventism and into the large and unwieldy denominations'. Sometimes they pick the small safe ones, like the independent organizations where they feel safer, but either way they are forced to navigate a huge new theology on their own, or at least seemingly on their own, and like that vessel they sometimes overcompensate with extreme Calvinism or other isims. How soon they are able to keep from over steering is mainly up to the person, it may take days or years. Hopefully, they will all eventually be able to hold her dead on course, and become adept at maneuvering in and out amongst the narrow channels and the vessels around them. This is the way God teaches me, he uses the realities of this life to teach me spiritual matters, and he taught me today as he brought to remembrances that real time in my life when I too, was attempting to captain my vessel in among dangerous circumstances. It helps me get some more insight into some one else, who is just as frightened and nervous as I was that day, and to have patience and try not to crowd them as they come into a harbor looking for the safety of still waters, it may cause them to over react, and I need to keep that in mind and help them if I can. It seems my harbors are so busy, vessels constantly leaving and entering, that I don’t have time for patience, but I need to pause and take the time for them. To take the time out of a busy day, to give encouragement and try to give them room. It is hard to do, but yet it must be done if at all possible. River | ||
| Pegg Registered user Username: Pegg Post Number: 581 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thank you, River! I feel like you wrote this especially for me.  It SO describes the journey I have had since that day, 4 years ago, when the Lord Jesus said to me, "You'd really like me if you knew me." Then He gave me Living Water. Life hasn't been the same since... But He Is Teaching Me, And Ever Keeping His Hand On The Helm. Pegg | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7710 Registered: 3-2004  |
River, thanks for this. It so describes my story at this moment. The good thing about all this is that I will let God guide my boat through the storm of what is happening and I will be safe with Him. Diana L | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 644 Registered: 1-2007 |
River, I can sure relate to your story as my folks had a boat for many years (40 ft) and I remember the first time my dad handed the helm over to me and my being scared to death. That is how I felt when Jesus came into my life and turned it upside down as I was so comfortable in the sda religion. It was like I thought I knew Jesus by walking by him and saying 'hi Jesus' and keep on walking until one day He stood right in front of me and said "I am tired of you saying 'hi Jesus' and then keep on walking thinking you know me when you really don't and so now you are really going to sit down and learn who I am. At first I thought I knew him and blew it off but He was very persistant and at first it was scarry to learn what I had been taught was wrong but something has kept me coming back for more. Do I truely know Him, no, as that is our life time of learning. Do I love Him, you bet and my love for Him keeps growing everyday as I learn more about him as it does when you get to know someone but only deeper than for man. His love for us is forever (unconditional) not fickle as sda teaches through their warped teachings. Jesus is my school teacher through the HS and the best I can ever have. Gail | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10643 Registered: 12-2003  |
River, thank you. You've totally captured the disorientation I felt when I first left Adventism and entered the Christian community. As an Adventist I thought I understood Christianity. I had no idea! It has been a journey--exciting but often difficult--to learn to submit my mind to the word of God and to learn to trust my fears, my loved ones, and my life to the Lord Jesus. Thank you for that wonderful story. Colleen | ||
| Doc Registered user Username: Doc Post Number: 471 Registered: 2-2003  |
Very good illustration River! Also applies very much to church history, as well as indivual experience. Another way it has been pictured is a swinging pendulum, from one extreme to another, until a balanced view is finally reached. God bless, Adrian |
