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Post by hopeful on Aug 9, 2018 10:32:31 GMT -6
Little back story first.
Last summer my husband and I bought a small sailboat. My husband loves sailing, and I wanted to love it, but I felt so far outside my element I was either scared or waiting to be scared. Sailboats have this thing where they're meant to sail on an angle. I spent a lot of time on the uphill side of the boat trying to level it out, saying, "is this normal?!"
Finally this summer I decided to take a sailing class. It was intense, it was facing all of my concerns head on, in pretty brisk weather to boot. There came a moment when I was at the tiller and we hit that sweet spot. The wind filled the sails and the boat responded like a living thing, zipping along at a jaunty angle. I suddenly realized it was normal; it was more than normal, it was amazing.
I woke up the next morning and realized how sailing parallels our walk with God in so many ways.
(The parable of the leaning boat) our nature tends to want to go along on a fixed course, as level as possible, with few surprises. God wants us to get up on that plane, and catch that breeze, to feel that magic of going with Him.
Along those lines, you can't just pick a spot on the horizon and go, you must constantly adjust for it. And depending on the elements, that can really wear you out.
I could go on and on, but one last parable really stood out to me. Our instructor said that a lot of times when people are sailing in rough water and call the coast guard for a rescue, it's because they ran out of strength, not because their boat failed them. It's not unusual for those boats to be found, weeks or even months later, sailing along as they were meant to. How many times in my life my faith has been much smaller than God's ability to care for me.
Anyone have modern day parables they'd like to share?
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Post by gkp on Aug 9, 2018 11:04:13 GMT -6
Thank you for sharing your sailing adventure with us, I only wish you would continue to post as more parallels come to mind. The one time I sailed I came away with one main idea. A power boat is a vessel for those who want control of everything. You point the boat where you want to go and give it some throttle. With sailing you need to sense the wind. I believe the Greek word for spirit can also be translated as wind. So a good sailor will patiently study the wind and let it empower the vessel. I will see If I can think of a parable to share too. What a good idea you had!
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Post by hopeful on Aug 9, 2018 11:51:05 GMT -6
Thanks, gkp.
It was interesting to watch a couple sets of people come in on power boats. They came in really fast, with no regard for the wind or current, or even that the dock was right in front of them. They seemed to have no relationship with the water. I'm sure there are many people who own power boats who are sensitive to where they are and what's happening. You have no choice in a sailboat.
And being sensitive to the wind is like being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. And when you are in tune, your experiences are infinitely richer than when you are pushing your way along.
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Post by hopeful on Aug 14, 2018 16:18:12 GMT -6
It's been a couple of weeks since my sailing class and this morning my husband and I went out in our own boat with a friend who is a good sailor. I learned several things very quickly: Things happen Every. Single. Time. My recently acquired knowledge is remarkably superficial at this point. Sailing is still pretty amazing! Afterwards it brought to mind not so much a parable as a parallel. I realized after my class I was like a brand new Christian who said, "okay! I'm saved by grace, I have eternal life in Jesus Christ, now I can handle anything.". And then challenges come and that brand new Christian learns that there's a lot more to this whole thing of walking with God. I'm grateful to have learned and grown over the years in my walk with God. It's easier to be a baby sailor than a baby Christian
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Post by gkp on Aug 14, 2018 16:32:36 GMT -6
It's easier because you can get off the boat and go home. They do make these things called docks. It's always good to wait for the dock. Peter didn't always wait for the dock. One time he tried to walk on stormy water. At night.But, as a teacher once told me "Better wrong and strong than right and uptight." Sail on!
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Post by hopeful on Aug 14, 2018 16:36:01 GMT -6
Lol! That's true You can typically be a part time sailor but it doesn't work well to be a part time Christian.
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