Faith
In 1976, when Tim Severin and his crew set out from Ireland in their leather boat to sail to Newfoundland, they had faith. They had “confidence in what [they] hope[d] for”1. It had been done before and they knew it was possible.
When I embraced the Christian faith and set out to live my life in the companionship of Jesus, I had faith. I had “confidence in what [I] hope[d] for”2.
When the crew of the Brendan set out, they could not see the shores of America or how they would land, but they had assurance that the continent existed and that they could get there.
I cannot see the Kingdom of God but I do have assurance that God and His Kingdom exist and that somehow I can get there.
The crew had to strive against the wind whipping their sails to tatters that flapped uselessly. They clung to the mast to rescue and repair the remaining rags. Waves crashed and swamped the boat. In a fight for survival they bailed for hours with all their strength to stay afloat.
My faith journey has also been rough, threatening to snuff out faith and hope. Waves of envy and anger threatened to drown, and gales of hate threatened to blow me onto rocks of destruction. It takes strength of mind and will to hold the tiller firm, to remain with Jesus through the storm. Jesus is the One who calms the storm and gives the strength to hold on tight to truth.
On calm days I stretch out in the sun, grateful for warmth and comfort, listening to gentle wavelets lapping on the sides of
my boat, watching seagulls soar and look quizzically down at me from the crosstree and singing with a pod of dolphins leaping alongside.
Until later, becalmed with no wind for my sails, I sink into despair and unbelief. I feel trapped, believe nothing I do will make any difference and I will never get out of this despondency. I try to remember “faith is confidence in what we wait for”3 and “faith is assurance about what we do not see”4. I wait, listening and watching. A breeze lifts my hair and the corner of my sail. Faith is renewed.
My faith is not titanic, but it is enough, because God is enough.
The Titanic sank. It was too hard. When hard meets hard there is destruction.
The Brendan completed her voyage with little damage.
I am damaged but still intact.
Faith is like a leather sailing boat. When the Brendan collided with ice, it bounced and slid alongside. The wet leather was slippery against the slippery ice. There was little damage. The fear that led up to the inevitable collision was unnecessary. The boat just bobbed along to meet the next ice floe.
Faith, too, is resilient. It is strong to protect, yet supple and pliable. It breathes through the waves that lap, heave, drench, splash and crash. Faith keeps bobbing up again and again although the swell is around, underneath and even breaking overhead. The unrelenting waves of popular opinion, media, skeptics and scoffers adamantly claiming the old words are myths, fairy tales and irrelevant for today’s sophisticated society cannot destroy a living relationship with Jesus who will not allow one of His own to drown in hopelessness and cynicism.
Others before have lived in faith and Jesus has been a faithful vessel to carry them through to their destination. I can travel this way, too!
It’s been done before and I know it is possible!
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
1 Hebrews 11:1, NIV
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
