Another Holy Spirit Sailboat Letter

As most of you know, The Journey includes a powerful exercise where participants understand the Holy Spirit through the lens of a Sailboat.  The participants write a "Letter to God" based on their discoveries about their life and many creative letters have been written.  This letter (story) was submitted by one of our guides in Bryan, TX.  We thought you would enjoy it as much as we did.

Filling of the Spirit - Sailing

If our body is a vessel let’s learn how to sail it in a way that reflects well on the boat builder.  Don’t be like someone who buys a boat without learning how to use it to its fullest potential.  We’re not looking for a “party” boat that we’ll use for a few weekends until the new wears off.  You know that guy who buys a boat, invites some of his craziest friends, tries to impress others with how much fun they're having and ends up being basically obnoxious and probably dangerous.  After a while, the boat will break down because he doesn’t take care of it, and he’ll tell everyone that it’s the worst investment he ever made.  The crazy friends will be gone, and the boat will have weeds growing up around the trailer.

No, this boat is different.  This boat is designed to take us somewhere we’ve never been.  Maybe we’ll sail to an island paradise where the skies are always clear, and the water is always warm.  We want this boat to fulfill a desire for adventure – to satisfy a longing for meaning and a sense of accomplishment.  This boat is for a long journey.  This journey takes us into the open sea where we can’t see fully see our destination.

So where do we find this boat?  Surely, it's found at the yacht club.

As I walked up and down the dock, I saw many beautiful boats.  The boats were large and impressive.  The chrome fittings sparkled in the sun and the decks were arranged with chairs made from luxurious teak wood and covered with bright, white cushions.  Workers were busy washing, shining, and polishing the boats as a group of people who I assumed to be the owners watched carefully.  I spoke with one of the workers and asked.  Are you preparing for a voyage soon?  He replied, “Oh no, these boats rarely leave the harbor.  We’re preparing for a party tonight.  You know how these owners like to impress their friends.”  Somewhat surprised, I walked further down the dock.  At the end, I saw a boat that was so much larger than the others that it wouldn’t fit in a regular slip.  As I stood admiring the boat, a man approached me and asked, “Can I help you with something?”  It’s a beautiful boat you have, I said.  Would you mind if I asked what a boat like this would cost?  He eyed me up and down and replied, "Trust me son, if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it."

Feeling discouraged, I turned to leave the dock.  As I stepped back on the shore, an elderly man was sitting in a chair selling bait from an old cooler.  Most of the yacht club members paid no attention to him as they passed by.  "Why so down?" he said.  Oh, well, I really would like to buy a boat and learn to sail but after speaking to these boat owners, it appears I’m going to need a lot of money.  I’ve got to work harder if I ever hope to be like them.  "You don’t want to be like them," he said.  "They don’t really understand sailing, but I do.  If you’re willing to learn, I am willing to teach you.  If you’re willing to look at sailing differently than most of them, I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for and be able to enjoy your boat in the way that the boat maker intended." 

We agreed to meet the next day to go sailing on his boat.  The old man shook my hand as I turned to leave.  Something inside told me I needed his help. 

It was a beautiful, sunny day without a cloud in the sky.  His boat was obviously used but well maintained.  It was modest in comparison to the others.  How do I determine the right size boat for me, I asked.  "The size of the boat is determined by the number of passengers you will carry and the amount of cargo you will need.  It’s important to remember that any unnecessary cargo will be extra weight for the boat to carry and can make sailing more of a challenge.  As you can see, I’ve been very deliberate about what I choose to carry on my boat.  Everything on board is important and has a specific purpose."

We untied the boat and sat quietly at the dock for what seemed like an eternity.  I began to become impatient.  What are we waiting on, I asked?  “This is a sailboat," he replied.  "Sailboats need wind to sail.  Do you feel any wind?"  No!  "Just be patient.  As hard as we try, we can’t make the wind blow.  God will make the wind blow when He is ready.  We just need to be prepared when He does.  Trust me, the first time you feel this boat being carried along by no other force than the wind, it will be a feeling like you never known.  Once you experience it, you won’t be able to wait for your next day on the water."

Eventually, a gentle breeze began to blow.  The telltale ribbon at the top of the mast began to flicker back and forth.  Without a word, he slowly raised the sail and pulled a few lines on the deck. The sail filled with a pop.  He wrapped the line around a cleat on the deck, pointed the boat towards the open bay and suddenly we were sailing.  It was amazing how quickly and effortlessly the boat could move with the slightest amount of wind.

After a while, I realized we had travelled some distance.  The marina and the land were no longer in sight.  Without warning he released the tension on the line connected to the boom.  The boom swung quickly to the front of the boat.  The sail began to flap in the wind and the boat came to an eventual stop.  We were just floating on the waves.  “Now you try,” he said.

I tried to replicate what I had seen him do.  Apparently, the boat had turned while we were drifting.  Hoisting the sail was much more difficult than he made it look.  Each time I let go of the line to try to move the boom, the sail fell back to the deck.  I couldn’t seem to get the boat pointed in the right direction.  I was struggling mightily.  At one point, the boom swung completely around almost knocking me from the deck.  All the while, he looked on with a gentle smile.  With a forgiving tone, he shared his wisdom.  Do this, try this, don’t worry about that. He never spoke to me with an angry tone or any malice.  Everything he said was for my benefit and was exactly what I needed to hear.  I just needed to listen.  I did everything he told me and eventually the sail filled with wind and the boat began to move again.  He seemed to know that I would eventually stop resisting and do it his way. 

However, something was wrong.  The boat would move forward slowly while pitching to the left and to the right.  What now?  I was frustrated.  I’m doing everything you said and we’re barely moving.  He walked to the back of the boat and grabbed a rope that was submerged in the water.  Apparently, in my attempt to avoid the swinging boom, I had accidentally released the anchor into the water.    He could tell I was embarrassed as he lifted the heavy anchor that was holding me back.  He was gracious as he reminded me that when we’re sailing, we need to be focused on what the boat needs and where the wind is taking us.  We have to leave the worries of daily life on the dock.  We can’t be distracted by money, or the guy that made us mad at work, or all of the other cares of life.  If we shift our focus away from the boat and what it needs, our journey will definitely go off course.

With the anchor safely stowed away, he sat down beside me and said, “Let’s try this again.  I can tell that you’re tired and burdened by what waits for your back on land.  Listen to my voice, follow my instruction and relax as we continue our trip." He placed his hand on the rudder next to mine and turned the boat towards home.  Back on land, I felt rested and confident.  I couldn’t wait for another day on the water.  I was excited to tell my family and friends about the experience that I had.  As he walked away, I shouted – does your boat have a name?  He said, "It does- I call it Spirit."