A Good Ship

Norman Vincent Peale once told of a cruise he was on that had to skirt a hurricane. After the imminent danger had passed, he had a conversation with the Captain. The Captain related that he had always lived by a simple philosophy: If the sea is smooth, it will get rough; and if it is rough, it will get smooth.” Then he added, “But with a good ship, you can always ride it out.”

The Captain’s philosophy reminds me of something my grandmother always said. When confronted with the latest problems, concerns, or worries, she would regularly remind us all, “This too shall pass.” She lived to be 97 and indeed saw much in life come and go. As they say, change is the only constant. 

In our own lifetimes, change is happening rapidly, some of it good, and some of it really difficult. We all face times of failure, heartbreak, sickness, or uncertainty. We also enjoy great blessings and beauty. 

It is the second part of the Captain’s philosophy that hits home with me. It raises the question: What is it that will carry me through the sometimes tumultuous journey of life? Am I building a solid ship – a ship that is well-formed by prayer and service to others; a ship that is undergirded with support from friends, family, and a faith community? Because the Captain was right, wasn’t he? A good ship can make all the difference.

Let us pray: Loving God, I pray today, especially for people who are in the midst of stormy seas; for those who are afraid and uncertain, for those who are feeling depressed or unloved; for those who have come to believe that this storm is all there is. I ask that you would give them courage and strength. Help them to see beyond the day, beyond the darkness. Help them to trust that your hand is at work even now to deliver and rescue. For each of us this day, strengthen and reinforce our faith which is our ship. Amen.