The Danger of Drifting

When I was a boy my father used to take me fishing in his rowing boat on Lough Erne (in Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland). He knew all the best spots, where the fish were rising and where they might best be caught. As a fly fisherman he would steer his boat to a certain point near the shore, stop and switch off the engine. Over the next few minutes the boat would gently move along and drift with the wind and current towards the shore. My job, as well as keeping the line that I cast out of the trees, the dog and myself, was to watch over the bow to see if we were running too shallow.

The lapping of the waves against the boat was always soothing and it was easy to doze off. I could have even been lulled into thinking we were not moving at all. Thankfully, Dad, as the experienced fisherman he was, at the back of the boat he kept checking on me to verify our progress. To not check where we were, by looking over the bow now and again, would have been careless. Thanks to his guidance and prompting I do not ever remember us ending up stuck in or damaged by rocks.

It struck me this morning that, not only have we the proverbial experienced Captain of our ship on board, who knows where we are going and the best spots to “fish for men”, but we also have the Holy Spirit to guide us. The importance, if we are to continue to enjoy the beauty and marvel of journeying with God, is to avoid complacency, settling in our spirits and to always maintain our spirits alert and sober to His Voice and prompting, ready to change course to avoid shipwreck on any rocks in our way. With His daily company cheering our hearts and our eyes always on Him we are promised a journey that goes “from glory to glory”. Hallelujah!