On a Lake in Northern Minnesota

One summer I was at a friend’s cabin on a lake in Northern Minnesota.  It was a great place to go because we could fish, water ski and swim.  I always enjoyed my time there and admired my friend’s watercraft abilities.  He had a knack navigating anything that could float.  He really excelled with the sailboat his family owned.  It was larger than the one or two-person kind I was used to sailing.  It had two sails and could hold four to six people.  I really wanted to learn how to sail this boat like my friend could.

When I asked him, he was more than happy to oblige.  He showed me how to rig the sails and gave me tips on how it handled.  The day came when it was my turn to captain the boat.  I eagerly ran down to the dock and began to rig the boat.  I raised the sails, hooked up the rudder and made sure all was ready.  The last thing I wanted to do was secure it at the end of the dock.  Standing on the dock, I swung the boat around to grab the front (bow).  It was at this point a gust of wind came and the boat sailed away by itself.

In my effort to make sure all was ready; I had fastened the line to the large sail (mainsail).  A good sailor understands this rope (main sheet as it is called) should be left slack to allow the sail the flexibility to move back and forth with the wind and not power the boat.  I had inadvertently locked the throttle into position and turned the boat onto the lake.  I watched with dismay as it cruised towards the main channel of the lake.  It was going fairly straight.

I frantically jumped in a canoe and chased after it.  I am sure anyone watching wondered what kind of watersport involved chasing an unmanned sailboat with canoe.  I didn’t really have time to think about it.  The main channel of the lake had much stronger winds and I feared the boat would capsize.  I paddled harder and it seemed the sailboat sensed my intention and picked up speed.  I wasn’t going to reach it before it reached the channel.

The stronger winds hit the sail and there was an initial burst of speed while the sailboat heeled (leaned) hard.  This is the point the absent captain would have made adjustments to prevent capsizing.  The boat was just about to tip all the way when the rudder swung against the pressure and it turned into the wind (called irons).  The boat righted itself and stopped with the sails fluttering in the wind.  I soon reached it and was able to get both the boat and the canoe back to the dock.

I had spent so much time focused on what I could control when I was preparing the boat, I hadn’t taken into account what I couldn’t.  The whole point of sailing is harnessing the wind and I had taken this for granted.  The wind was the most important part and it hadn’t been in my plan.   This uncontrollable partner had shown me the real priorities of sailing.

Are we open to what God intends each and every day?  If you are like me, I spend a lot of time each day focused on what I can control.  When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles it was described as a great rushing wind.  What direction is the “divine wind” blowing and am I in the boat ready to sail that direction or am I so focused on what I can control things may just sail off with me? 

John 10:2-4        

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.