The other morning I set out on a short cruise on the “Visitation”- my sailboat currently tied up on the Newbegun Creek here in
Weeksville, NC.
I hoisted the sails and did a number of other tasks before launching from the pier.
In the time it took to hoist the sails and those other tasks, the wind shifted dramatically, blowing the boat into the pier and toward the shoreline.
Thankfully I was able to throw a line onto the pier piling just in time to pull the boat back in.
I would have to lower the sails
and use my little trolling motor to push me out into the middle of the creek before I could hoist the sails again because I was headed straight into the wind.
Thankfully this scheme worked very well- perhaps a little two well.
Since I was alone when I did this, I had no one to hold the rudder stable while I hoisted and adjusted the sails.
A stiff breeze caught me in mid-reach and propelled us this time toward the opposite shoreline, where the boat grounded on a small submerged log with such force it nearly threw me from the deck.
I grabbed onto the mast for fear of falling overboard into the snake-infested creek.
I scrambled back down into the cockpit and corrected the steering.
The Visitation broke free from the log and glided beautifully into the mouth of the creek and out into the middle of the
Pasquotank River.
My launch was a little rough, but a launch nevertheless.
I cruised around the creek for a couple of hours, meeting my friend in his boat near to the
Camden shore, and then headed back to up the Newbegun again.
I arrived at the pier with no difficulty whatever- grateful for the relaxing day of sailing and for the new experiences under my belt.
Some would say I am still a novice sailor, because when it comes to sailing there is no greater teacher than experience.
I have taken two courses at the local community college and have read many books on the subject.
But while they teach the basics it is pretty much up to me to build on the lessons I have learned, and then practice constantly.
To learn I must to get out into the boat, and have to push off from the pier and somehow overcome my fear of what will happen out on the water.
There is no other way to learn.
Without this kind of experience, you get rusty, and you may as well sell your boat because you lose the confidence to go back out into the water again.
Yesterday we took our oldest son to college, four hours away from our home. You might say that we launched him into the adult world, which is a far more frightening experience than sailing could ever be. For nineteen years he’s lived in our home, and we taught him and provided for him as best we could. But the only way to know if those lessons were worth anything is to allow him to go out into deeper waters without our supervision and hope and pray that he makes the right choices and decisions which will glorify God. It was hard not to choke on the tears as we left John in his dorm room that day. He seemed anxious to see us go, but only as one anxious for the chance to launch his boat away from the shore. There comes a time when we all must let go of the line which keeps us tied to the pier, and let the winds of the Spirit blow us where they will. We must have the faith God gives us and the courage and confidence in Him to do this, as Paul tells Timothy “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
Many children have experienced “failure to launch” because of their fear (or the fear of their parents) in letting go of the line. However, a good launch begins with the knowledge that we are not just letting go of the line. We are letting go of our line and holding onto another which is held on by the sure strength of our God. So give yourself a good launch today as you push from the shore of worldly security to where fair winds are blowing.
Have a blessed day!
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