Bjcorbin's Blog

The sky is a deep blue and cloudless; the wind is warm and steady; the rocky shore is barely visible on the horizon and the only sound is the water being channeled by the bow. The whiteness of the sail is blinding as the sun reflects off of it and there is not a wrinkle visible within it, as it stretches to contain every bit of wind. The faces of those on deck are filled with elation, as the gusts pull tears from the corners of their eyes. The boat skates effortlessly across the water, disappearing on the horizon.  

A second picture emerges; a stark contrast to the first; the colors are all muted shades of gray, blue and black.  A lone sailor stands at the helm of a sail boat, as it is presses steadily against the swells.  The rain is coming straight down and the horizon has disappeared into a smear of mist from the sky and the sea.  The sail is down and tightly lashed to the boom.  The boat plods through the waves, leaving a barely discernable wake; a testament to its’ scarce progress.

I sense a question, “Pleasure Cruise or Journey?” and I begin to understand these scenes.  As someone who has sailed for pleasure, I understand the exhilaration of catching the wind and skimming across the water.  A skillful sailor will position the boat to make full use of the breeze, keeping the sail full and the keel trimmed.  The second picture is much less familiar, because one who sails for pleasure has no incentive to go through a storm; when clouds appear on the horizon, we simply head back to the pier.  Only someone on a journey would venture to take a sail boat through a storm and within that, I could see a deeper truth.

 These pictures represent the way that we often choose to live.  If we live a life seeking our own fulfillment and happiness, we are like those who sail for pleasure; always looking for something to fill our senses and to exhilarate us.  One who sails for pleasure doesn’t concern themselves with what direction the wind is blowing or where the rudder is pointed, as long as their sail is full; they rarely stray far from the shore and will avoid a storm at all costs.  At the end of the day, success is judged by the strength of the wind and the smoothness of the seas.

For those who are on a journey, it is much different.  It is not so much the sail as it is the rudder and the compass.  Though such a sailor revels in those times when the sail is up and filled with wind, they understand that they must discern the wind and pull the sail down when an unfavorable wind blows.  They also understand that if they hope to reach their destination that they will have to pass through some storms.  In these times they just hold fast to the rudder and keep the ship pointed toward their ultimate goal.  For such a traveler, success is measured by the distance from their final destination.

In these pictures, the wind and the current beneath the sea represent the unseen forces of the spiritual realm; though we can’t see these forces, they powerfully affect us and they work together to create circumstances in our lives.  The waves and the weather are representative of what is seen and its affect on us.  The sail is representative of our thoughts and emotions, while the rudder is representative of our will.  Those who seek to be edified in their mind and emotions will bend their will toward which ever way the wind seems to favor these senses.   The enemy loves this type of sailor, as they are constantly distracted from the issue of destination and as they often will bring others along on their ride.  For those who see this life as a journey, the sail is only useful when the winds are moving the boat toward its destination; when the winds threaten to take the boat off course, the sail is withdrawn and tightly bound, so as not to catch a foul wind.  Even though the ride is not as enjoyable or expedient, maintaining the course is all that is of value.  Such a sailor often finds themselves alone, because it is a rare breed who is willing to embark on such a journey.  So the question for all of us remains, “Pleasure Cruise or Journey?”