One Boat's Crew
By Tracey Thompson
Nov.
1995
There once was a boat.
Not very large, but it wasn't any dinghy either. This boat had a crew, they knew the destination they were
headed. On that they all
agreed. They also agreed on who their Captain was. He couldn't be with them in body, but he was in spirit so to speak. He had left them with a log book of past voyages and all his rules and regulations. The crew also had an old radio, but you had to
listen very quietly to hear anything.
Sometimes there happened to be a little more static than other
times. I'm not sure if anyone ever
noticed, but the static always coincided with someone standing in the wrong place. Depending on where crew members were standing
the static would be more or less. Sometimes when the static bothered and they couldn't hear Captain on the radio, some crew members had to move. Not always to a totally new spot, but just a little one way or the other and
it was easier to hear.
Usually crew members would volunteer other to do the moving. There was sometimes a problem with the rowing: They might argue as to who would get what oar, some would row, some
wouldn't row without others and some didn't care to row at all. The biggest problem was the direction to row this boat. Remember I had said that they all agreed on their destination,
but getting there caused some difficulty. Sometimes discussions would get heated and the boat would rock. They would hang
onto the boat (it was solid and firm), making sure they didn't lose their log book and radio. Now, discussing things, even rocking the boat some, isn't always bad. Things get
figured out that way. But if they rowed ten feet and rocked for ten days, they weren't going to get very far. They had to figure
out which way would be best for the crew. The crew spent months, years out on the water, rowing a little, rocking a lot; row; rock; row; rock. They all agreed they wanted more rowing, but couldn't seem to get that accomplished. They were also busy with other duties on the boat. The crew had to figure out what the Captain would do. They were a loyal lot and they wanted to make him proud.
They had to listen to the radio, but it was older and didn't seem to be working well. They studied the log books and realized that all their directions were going
to the same place. Getting
to that destination and following Captain's rules was what was most important. Some crew members had to give up going the old, always traveled route and try the new.
Sometimes the crew with the new paths had to concede some old routes were best. They had to look at it from the Captain's eyes whether or not the route
traveled was good for the crew and would be what pleased the Captain
best. Sometimes two routes would serve the exact same purpose but be very different. This is
where the crew members had to shine. For the good of the crew, the boat and the destination, they would
have to say "let's try your route".
I always figured in the back of their mind they would be thinking "and if that doesn't work
there is always my way".
But regardless, they conceded, with no malice or feelings of being trod upon. They became supportive of one another. Funny thing about this crew, though some would have liked it different, no two rowed
the same. Every style you
could imagine on that boat. Rather than insisting that all row uniformly, which in the past had caused
much boat rocking because some were struggling to do what didn't come naturally for them, they gained an appreciation for each unique
style of rowing. With
each rowing in his own way, but all in the same direction it made for an interesting boat that left a very diversified and distinct wake. It also gave the crew lots to visit
about while they rowed. The crew realized that going a route that other crew members chose wasn't a bad thing, it wasn't giving in or giving up anything. It was working
together, cooperating with one another to get to the destination that was so important to all of
them. They had to be willing to make it work, whether or not it was the same
route they would have personally chosen. They began to discuss different routes in a way that would make the Captain proud. The radio was easier to hear. If the
static got to be too much there were many volunteers to move themselves not someone else.
Though many routes were tried; old retraveled, new charted, even old and new merged together (a tricky one) the boat rowed along. Loosing crew
members and gaining new crew members, but knowing they were going to reach their destination and that their Captain would be pleased with them. Pleased with the love and compassion each crew member had for each other (there is
something to love and admire about everyone), that each member had learned
to be more flexible (to help eliminate static), malice had no place
on this boat, and their wake would leave a definite and joyful mark for other ships and boats to see.
Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Romans 12:11
Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written:
Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” Matthew 4:10
So, spend time with and listen to Your Captain....read His Log Book daily. AND row to the best of your ability and with all you've got!!
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