May 26th - Reflection

Acts 27:1-12 (NRSV)
Paul sails for Rome

When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for. Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying, "Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest.

Reflection
This is one section of the Bible that really comes up with some good narrative of a voyage and a shipwreck. Very good to read and exciting too. It also displays a side of Paul that we don't see that often. We see Paul and his active logic and intelligence of ancient seamanship. Luke paints the scene of a journey and the dangers that take place in these passages.

But Paul is a passenger after all and the final calls are not made by Paul on the timing of the voyage.

Sometimes in life we are in it for the ride. Sometimes we have some influence and a little control, but more of the time we are in it with little or no control. In this we turn, as disciples to Jesus, and give our trust and faith. We work our hardest at whatever the call may be, but we trust in the outcome. We live, we love and we serve others while we take the voyage.

And that life, that love and the serving is what makes a wonderful trip with our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I trust you, I love you. I serve you and those you give and send to me today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen