A few years ago, my son, Steve, son-in-law, Greg, and I were boating down the Atlantic Intercostal Waterway.  On the second day we ran into gale force winds on Chesapeake Bay on our way to Norfolk, Virginia.  The winds were coming out of the northeast generating waves of five to six feet or more.  The Coast Guard had posted two flags which meant that the winds were blowing at 39 to 54 mph.  Because we were heading south and the winds were coming at our stern, it was more difficult to control the steerage of the boat. 

We of course put on our life jackets.  I asked Steve to go down in the cabin for additional ballast, and Greg to stay on the flying bridge with me to monitor our location on the GPS.  The skies were heavily overcast and visibility to shore and the markers designating the channel were marginal.  There weren’t any safe inlets along this portion of the Bay to go for cover, and it would have been too dangerous to turn toward shore with the winds and waves then hitting us broadside.

Never having experienced these conditions before, I found myself learning how to control the boat as we proceeded.  The key was not pulling back on the throttle as the boat accelerated down the front side of a wave to avoid the boat turning sideways and capsizing.  This almost happened to us early on.  It took us over four hours to reach Norfolk, which was not that far.  I was never so happy to see the outlines of an aircraft carrier through the haze at the Norfolk Naval Base. 

Because I was so concentrated on maintaining control of the boat over the entire period, I never even remembered to pray for God’s protection.  Yet we had during all of this, Jesus’ final words and promise to his disciples, “And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:20) This promise echoes the birth narrative, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmauel,” meaning “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23) 

What a blessing for those who believe in Jesus, God’s Son, and Messiah, that he, his presence, and protection, are always with us, even when we are preoccupied and not thinking about him.  Thank you, Lord Jesus! 

[The picture includes Steve, son-in-law Ralph who joined us on the return trip, yours truly, and Greg.]