It was a cold December morning in the San Francisco Bay area. As my fishing buddy, Rick, and I arrived at the marina, I commented that it was going to be a challenge to see many birds diving for baitfish with the heavy fog conditions.
After launching, I reassured him that he was with a man who knew the delta well. The biting cold and the endless fog seemed to worsen as we moved across the slough. I needed to correct our steering to the right if we were going to run a correct course, as my boat tended to pull to the left when motoring at low speeds.
We had been totally quiet for about five minutes when Rick broke the silence and asked, “When will we get there?” He was obviously getting anxious. I tried to reassure him, but deep down I knew something was wrong. I had miscalculated the mark.
Time passed, the river current was running quickly. I visualized my new bass boat drifting under the Golden Gate Bridge and out to sea without anyone noticing. What a ridiculous situation we found ourselves in.
I turned off the engine and we drifted for what seemed like hours, but was only fifteen or twenty minutes. Then I heard it. Terror began to grip my heart as I recognized the sound of the propeller wash of a very large ship. Should we move? What direction?
We decided to stay where we were and pray. The ship passed on the port side, probably 150 feet away. It barely missed us but the wake nearly capsized my boat.
As I gathered my senses, I began to pray. God reminded me that the help I needed was in my boat. There was a map in the glove box. I thought this was just like God’s word , the map that would direct us home. The compass on my dashboard would guide us to true north, just as the Holy Spirit guides us to the true God. As I considered these analogies, I realized my friend, Rick, represented the Christian fellowship we need in tough times.
Jesus knew His disciples lacked faith at times, as we all do. Yet, He remained sensitive to their frustrations and confusion. To help them better define their priorities, He offered them a simple but profound message—to follow and trust Him.
Especially when it’s foggy.
Taken from The Spiritual Mentor,by Jim Grassi