By Jason Arant
Bob and his wife had been married for nearly 20 years and their union
had never produced children. As such the entire family was surprised to receive
an envelope from Bob in the mail containing a card that communicated there
would soon be a new addition to their family. Upon opening the card we were
surprised again to find a 3 x 5 color photo of a 28’ sailboat christened the “DeRanger.”
Not long afterwards we set sail with Bob and the “newest member” of the
family on Lake Erie. We had spent many hours sailing on the small local lakes
of our hometown, but none of us, including Bob, had ever sailed on a large body
of water.
Our corporate lack of experience became evident immediately. We shoved off and sailed out of the harbor
without realizing that no one had brought along navigational charts. Such
charts are unnecessary on the man-made lakes of the Midwest. Navigational
charts are essential however, for navigating larger bodies of water.
The initial exuberance for the trip was being quickly eroded by the
realization that we might just be in over our heads. We began to lack
confidence in our seafaring abilities and question the wisdom of embarking on
the trip.
Eventually Bob disappeared into the galley and
returned holding a laminated placemat from the dining table. The placemat was
covered on one side with the logos of area businesses that had paid for
advertising. On the other side was a chart of Lake Erie complete with buoys,
depths, islands, lighthouses, and shipping lanes all interspersed between the
residue of omelet and ketchup stains. Our spirits began to rise as we felt our
chances of completing a successful trip beginning to grow.
Over the next few days we took turns reading our humble placemat chart.
We learned the proper terms for things like: luffing,
mainsheet, jib, and spinnaker. We sailed after dark and even set a bearing and
navigated by compass for several hours while out of sight of land. As we worked
together and confronted each unique challenge our confidence in the trip, our
selves, and one another grew by leaps and bounds.
Confidence is cultivated. It is rooted in gritty real-life experience
and grows in the moments where such challenges are overcome. For the Christian
confidence is ultimately rooted in the person of Christ, his Word, and His
achievements of victory over sin, death, and the cross.
When we can’t find our way and realize we don’t have the charts Christ
becomes our direction as the way, the truth, and the life. When we discover
that our own abilities are lacking his grace is sufficient to fill in the gaps.
Our confidence in Christ becomes the wind in our sails that grows and carries
us deeper into the adventure God has prepared for each of us.
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence
is in him.” Jeremiah 7:17
Jason Arant writes from Phoenix, Arizonia.
arantj@mac.com