THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOAT
The storm raged and beat upon the little boat which knew not why it had to suffer so, it knew not what its purpose was and it knew not how to save its hide and in agony cried to its captain 'Save me, sir, I pray!!' The captain looked at him with compassion and a smile lit up his face midst the dark storm. ‘Little one,' he said with his old husky voice, 'Trust me for I know the way.' The little boat had no choice so it let the captain have his way.
Now, the rain poured, thunder roared and the lightning flashed so strong, the little boat got frightened but the captain remained a rock, and as he stirred the boat through ridges, it seemed to lose its faith, and it once again turned to the old sea captain with a plea, 'Sire, I pray don’t take this way, isn’t there another in which you could perhaps proceed?' 'Little one,' he said once more, his voice so composed, 'Trust me for I know the way.'
The skies raged its fury upon the little boat, but then seeing its faith unmoved seemed to lose its flame. Soon, there was daylight, a calm, deep blue sea, crystalline and clear and the little boat looked around to see all changed. Petite houses lined the coast as people bustled about and children with tiny toys ran ashore, surprised it looked into the water to see it too had transformed during the storm. The old dull blue had now been replaced by a shining new coat, the stripes of red shone through the mellow yellow colour of the mast. It, now, noticed that it cut the waters smoothly with pain no longer, and with gratitude looked at the old captain and said 'Thank you, sir, oh thank you'. The captain threw back his head and laughed and said, 'Oh little one, did I not tell you to trust me? Thank you for that!'
And with skies so hue and fair, we leave this distant shore learning something from the story of the little boat. We just need to remember that when skies are black, and waters tremulous, God pilots our ship at all times!!
- Sandy Mathews
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