Home for the Holidays, by Thomas Kincaid

Saturday, February 20, 2010

The Voyage

"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
—William Shedd

Do you ever feel like you have set sail for a never before seen destination, unsure of the storms that lie ahead, hoping and praying that you are sturdy enough to withstand the onslaught of towering waves, hurricane force winds, or days of such calm that there is no wind to fill your sails? Some of those around us, sail smoothly passed us seemly from start to finish with barely a ripple or cloudy day to mar their travel, while we may feel battered and nearly broken, arriving in port barely held together.

What sustains us as we move forward through both rough seas and calm? For some, it is the knowledge that they are well built and strong, but even some of these will never make it. It is having the knowledge that God is over the hurricanes, the winds, the rains, that helps us keep going. He is the brilliant Navigator in whom we must put our trust, for if we do, He will safely guide us. As for the seeming inequities in life, it is to trust that God will give us the understanding, in this Life or the next, why some smoothly sail while others are devastated by the journey.

Whatever our experience, God has made us for the open sea. It is only there that we experience the exhilaration of the wind in full sails. It is only there that we can feel we are fulfilling our destiny. It is where we learn to be sea worthy. It is our opportunity to learn to trust the Navigator that He will see us to safe harbor when our voyage is over and we return Home to go out no more.

Have a blessed Sabbath!
Elizabeth

4 comments:

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Morning Sweet Elizabeth...
I love your blog. It does look so St. Patty's (ish). You have done an outstanding job.

You asked about my clovers? I write my own code. I never could find what I wanted, so I just wrote it myself and then change with the seasons what I want. Where did you get the code for this? It looks like it needs to be stretched and continued across more width. I am not sure.

Have a beautiful day sweetie. Country hugs and much love...Sherry

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

This is a beautiful and inspiring meditation.

The Single Nester said...

How I needed this today! I have a post appearing tomorrow about how I feel like a duck; All calm above the water but paddling like crazy underneath. Thank you!

Maie said...

The beauty in language--inspiring and touching dear Elizabeth--just like you. It makes me miss you all the more.