Out to Sea...A glimpse into the with-God Life

The man stood anxiously with one foot on the wooded dock and the other on the boat’s deck.  The ropes, now untied, were creating distance between the vessel and the dock.  His body strained to bridge the gap.  “Please come.” He said, his hand extended to those not yet in the boat.  “We can’t wait much longer, its moving away from the shore.”  Unsure of the boat’s destination and hesitant to leave the comfort of the warm dock many chose to remain back.    After all, why give up the comfort of the poised reality one comes to know as their familiar life?  Still, some found themselves compelled off the dock and drawn to this mysterious vessel. 

            God calls.  He comes to each of us and extends the invitation to join Him in his Kingdom world... He woos us out of the comfortably predictable and invites us into a journey with Him (Gen 12:1-9, Mk 1:3)... Drawing us out to sea, he whispers his invitation as reality collides with our ideals.  This disruption itches its way out through our spiritual skin and we become dissatisfied with the status-quo.  We are convinced that something must change.  So while the profiles of those on the dock fade and we weep over the distance the sea creates, we have no choice but to turn and set sail with those who have found themselves, like us, on these unexpected waters responding to this God-call. 

            It is a fierce invitation as we, his image-bearers, join in holding the sails and become seafarers with Him.  As the mist blankets our face, vision may grow dim but we find The Captain is sure, so we sail on.  Along the way, as The Captain sails with us, we discover we may have over-packed for the journey and we let go of things once held dear, now unneeded.  They are "the things that have so easily entangled" us (Heb. 12:1-2).  We see more clearly, the tethering nature of our earthly treasures and how they once moored us to the dock and kept us from setting out to sea with the good Captain.  To cling to such idols seems foolish now as the shadow of fear dissipates in the light of His love.    

         

We gain our sea-legs on this with-God voyage, and it steadies our perspective. We notice changes in us and around us. (Gal. 5) Conversations seem different.  What preoccupied us in the past has lost its appeal.  New thoughts and ideas occupy our mind.  Our heart is being re-informed toward Truth. (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 12:1-2)  We are often surprised by who we find ourselves sailing with and there is unexpected joy as we companion together.  The things that typically divide friendships fade as we set aside our differences and find fellowship in the grace of Christ.  Status is mute, but the color of our stories creates a palate of paint by which the Creator may unfold this Meta-God story on the canvas of the sails of this ship. (1 Cor. 12)   

            We know we are a part of something…But what?   Could it be that we have encountered the fellowship of believers found common in the way of Christ?  Is it possible that the very thing for which we have previously grappled by way of status, materialism, and comfort…was actually found when their mechanisms were laid to rest and we risked it all by going out on an unknown sea with The Captain who set their waters in place? (Luke 9:24)

            This vessel, seemingly bound for the unknown, has brought us into the known -the riches of His Glorious Presence and the love that resides there within.  Perhaps it is all about sailing with The Captain, at sea, and the destination is simply... HIM. 


This prayer is attributed to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu adapted from an original prayer by Sir Francis Drake.


Disturb us, O Lord
when we are too well-pleased with ourselves 
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, 
because we sailed too close to the shore.


Disturb us, O Lord
when with the abundance of things we possess, 
we have lost our thirst for the water of life 



when, having fallen in love with time, 
we have ceased to dream of eternity 
and in our efforts to build a new earth, 
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.


Stir us, O Lord
to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas 
where storms show Thy mastery, 
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.


In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes 
and invited the brave to follow.


Amen