I stood at the shoreline and the great ship slipped from view. Every day I would go down to the docks for it's return but nothing. The days turned into weeks then months then years. It was harder and harder to drag myself down to the water's edge. Who wants to be disappointed day after day? Would this great ship return?
God and I had many discussions over my broken heart. I could not bare being abandoned. I wanted the journey and the adventure. I wanted to belong. By belonging I wasn't a misfit anymore. What more could I have done?
So the Master took me out onto the mighty ocean full of froth and rolling waves. With each massive storm, I would run to the 'sleeping' Christ with my fear. Each time He would still the winds and waves, I would feel the heat rise into the cheeks remembering the Bible story of this very thing. Over time I began to talk back my fear with God's Word and the seas would dissipate and I would find the Heavenly Father's Arms about me.
Then sometimes the sea lessons where gentle reminders to hold the faith. One of my favorite Bible stories is were God gave Joseph a moment to engage his own brothers without them knowing. To see their heart without revealing his. So last Thursday{{June 16th}} noon when J Vernon McGee was talking about Joseph, my ears perked up. He said Joseph was faithful in ALL his relationships. It stung my sensitive heart. I needed to be faithful in my own relationships even with that great ship that disappeared from my horizon.
Who would thought hours later before crawling into bed, God answered my tattered long-suffering prayer. The very prayer I thought would not get answered until I stepped foot in Heaven. That great ship that sailed out view six years ago came back. It gave eminent shock. I was afraid my heart would never be same.
I prayed about this moment. Would I remain soft and loving and welcome back or would I harden the heart? Could I be like Joseph of old?
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