The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1
Her name was Radiance of the Sea. Several years ago, I did something that I didn’t think I would ever do…take a cruise. The thought of being on a boat, a ship, a vessel with several thousand people that I didn’t even know was anything but enticing. I could only imagine me threading my way through crowds of people with four words continuously coming from my mouth! Excuse me. Pardon me. No, from the safety of the shore it just didn’t sound like something I wanted to do. And then, somehow, someway, we did it. And then we did it again and now we did it again.
A week or so ago, we drove down to New Orleans and boarded the Radiance of the Sea. As cruise ships go, she wasn’t the biggest, she wasn’t the newest. Now that I think about it, though, she might have been like the bed in the story of the three bears…just right. If you have never cruised, let me share with you about our experience. So, you buy your ticket, and you board the boat. From the moment you step on, they attempt to make each person feel important, valuable. They try to make sure your every need is met. It is like a small city that you call home for a few days or so.
The purpose of the ship is to take you and bring you back home. That involves sailing over some deep waters—like, 8,500 feet deep. But even knowing that, you feel safe…every precaution has been made to keep you safe. As every cruiser knows, it really is about the food. I mean three meals a day with snacks in-between and while it might not always taste like your momma’s cooking…it is pretty close. And the variety is incredible…allowing you to try new things…different things. It makes it all interesting. But there is more.
If you get sick, there is a doctor and several nurses. If you get bored, there is a cruise director who acts like he has had way too much coffee. There are all kinds of venues, or places, to listen to all kinds of music. That is one of our favorites. Oh, and there is someone who comes in to make our bed and clean our room…not once like a hotel but several times each day. There are noisy places if that is your thing and there are quiet places if that is your thing. And then, there are a couple of stops along the way for you to get off and see a new part of the world.
Now that is just a sampling, but I think you get the picture. And guess what? There is a captain up on the bridge (that’s what you call the place where they steer the boat) and he always knows where we are going and when we will get there. I don’t have to worry about a thing. Not.A.Thing. And that is why this whole experience, on a smaller scale, reminds me of my Father in heaven. Every need met. Ever watching and caring. Ever leading us to…home.
One of the most beautiful songs in the Hebrew hymnbook is what we call the 23rd Psalm and the first verse, the first few words, describe the Great Captain’s care for us as we cruise here…and into eternity. Are you ready? Here is it. “The Lord is my Shepherd…I shall not want.” Don’t run past that. When we become part of the family of God by faith in Jesus, God is our Captain and He takes responsibility for us. Responsibility.For.Us. We don’t need to worry, we don’t need to fret because He is in control and His storeroom of supplies never, never, runs out. How about that?
So, why not just think about today, tomorrow and the next and then think about the fact that you don’t have to worry because the Captain of your life has everything under control. Now to be fair and truthful, we did have one day that was rough due to some high winds. But never, ever did we feel in danger. And you will have some rough weather in life too, but you don’t have to worry because the Captain knows the way, knows the storm. You can have meal, have a rest and lay your head down on your pillow knowing that “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 