Vessels and Ships at Sea
Over the past few months, I have been blessed to discover relationSHIPs that give comfort, peace, and a refreshing rawness. When a life event occurs, whether it be a death, birth, divorce, or illness (just to name a few) it can be as if you have been thrown out to sea. Often you find relationships filtering themselves out. Grief is not fun, it is not easy, but it must be dealt with and is much easier knowing there are "vessels" or ships at sea that can be a support system of trusted sailors that aren't afraid to let you deal, don't tire of hearing the same old stuff, and can sometimes just ask, "How are you?... No, REALLY, how are you?"
With my own loss, I find the terrain of grief to be a foreign journey at sea. I had been comfortable on the sand with an occasional high tide, storm, or hurricane. These were all difficult challenges, but there always seemed to be some footing. The sea of grief is much different. It's unique to each individual, uncharted, unpredictable, , unknown, turbulent, and powerful. Thrown out to sea by no choice of my own, I’ve been blessed to have the greatest gift of all, a Life Savior... Christ. This lifesaver and ring of life is my hope in the dark, stormy and rough waves of sadness and despair that relentlessly toss you to and fro. I cling onto my Life Savior; I trust and have faith that this ring, which I grasp with all my mind, heart and soul, will keep me afloat. As time passes, the waters calm more frequently, the sun shines, and sometimes a rainbow fills the sky. I won't be at sea forever and eventually I will be place ashore, where grief witll come in waves and tides instead of being all consuming.
I know that my lifeSavior can and will sustain me, but as I float at sea, ships or vessels of all sorts both familiar, new, and some not so expected will appear. You know you have tons of ships in your life, but aren't sure which are which until you have been at sea a while, but as you drift on your Life Savior, these vessels are revealed:
The Cruisers: come by in calm seas, keep their distance, wave, enjoy some small talk, and may ask "How's it going?" but you know there is no time to really share. So you enjoy your shared pleasantries as they continue thier cruise along.
The Party Pontoons: always upbeat, happy, looking for a good time. They only drift by when the weather and seas are calm and peaceful to stop for a while for some fun in the sun.
The Cargo ships: blare their mighty horn, not wanting to hear much... they already have a load, can’t be bothered and just want you to move on and get over it.
The Little Tug boats: thankfully show up at the start of your journey for a short time to help you out, but as you continue to deeper sea, they turn back toward the shore.
The Yachts: so fancy and fine but messy isn't their thing, keeping up perfection makes it hard for a flawed individual at sea to comfortably open up so you keep it hidden because you don't want burden them with the raw, uncomfortable and less than fancy reality of your life at sea.
The Rescue or Life Boats: venture closely in both rough and calm seas and yell "How are you doing?" So again you reply, "fine" or "hanging in there!" They again see you in the sea and can read you so well that they repeat, "NO, REALLY, How you doing?"
I'm blessed and appreciate each and every ship for what they are and know God has placed them in my life. Each serves a purpose on our journey, may help in thier own way, and some may not permeantly stay. Not every ship is the same ship to you as they are for someone else and ships may change over time. That's okay, it adds variety to life! Not everyone favors the same kind of ship. I like them all, but the vessels I value, cherish, and are most thankful for are the Rescue/Life boats! These true blue friendSHIPS are safe and easy to be with in both good and bad weather. Just by taking the time to ask, text, or call they are extending a rope you sometimes need to pull you close to the deck offering some rest, release, conversation, laughter, and tears...what ever the tide brings in. Upon reentering the waters, you feel more rejuvenated, encouraged, cared for, heard, and loved.
Although going through grief is a journey at sea, we many times have interchanging roles. In different seasons you may be at sea hanging on to your life saver (Savior) or you may be the vessel or ship that God is using for someone else at sea. Going through my own personal experience has caused me to reflect on what type of vessel(s) I have been and the one I want to be, or rather the one God has called me to be. Whatever struggle a friend or family member (or any person I encounter) is enduring, I pray that I can be attune and aware so that I can offer support, encouragement, laughter, rest, and if they're treading water perhaps share my Life Savior with them. My mom was a rescue/life boat for so many including myself and will be missed on a daily basis. I'm forever thankful to my parents for creating a home that taught biblical truths and knowing from a young age a loving God. A God who has been my "Life Savior" at sea keeping me afloat while providing comfort, peace, hope, grace, and the vessels (relationSHIPS) I need throughout my voyage.
Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2Timothy 2:21
