~The Nor'easter

Perhaps you are one who, when you see other families cheerfully enjoying holidays and other special times together, it brings pain or envy. Maybe this is because you are experiencing storms in some of your own relationships. We all have these storms from time to time and we all need to learn from these storms and to experience the benefit of their lessons.    In the Bible, in the book of Acts, chapter 27, there is a recounting of an episode in the life of the Apostle Paul. He andsome others were sailing when a violent storm called a Nor'easter came up. At first they fought the fierce winds, but soon they found they could not face them so they gave way to them and let themselves be driven along. As they were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo in order to lighten the load. As time passed, they tossed the ship's tackle overboard. Finally, they lost their way and their hope as days passed without being able to see even the sun or the stars. The stars, of course, were the means by which they navigated the ship.   Paul counseled them to take courage. He also encouraged them to take nourishment since they had not eaten for many days because, he said, "This is your preservation." After eating, they were strengthened. Then they threw out the wheat to make their load even lighter.    When they saw that the ship had begun to run aground, they cut off the anchors and put up the sails and headed for the finally visible shore. Although the ship itself was wrecked, every one of the men aboard made it to the shore and to safety.   If you are presently being assaulted by adverse relational winds, I encourage you to heed the lessons in this story:   1) When the winds become too great, stop resisting their force. The greatest pain sometimes is in the resisting. 2) Begin casting overboard things of less significance in order to preserve the thing of greater value. Things of less significance might include your pride, your rights, your hurt feelings or unforgiveness. These might be keeping you from reconciliation with another person or they might even be keeping you from being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and finding the peace He brings. This might even be the first step in finding reconciliation with significant others. 3) Take nourishment. This nourishment in our case would be spiritual nourishment, which is the Word of God and prayer. As Paul told his fellow passengers, "This is your preservation." back to Keepsakes Home