From the Deep

[Chaplain Steve Fox]

Ten miles out the waters were smooth as glass, as if we were sitting on a giant mirror. To say that the water was stretching from sunup to sunset would have been an understatement. Nothing could be seen except water and the sky. The water had no attraction so I found myself straining to catch the exact beginning of day or the ending at night. I thought it would be an easy task without obstructions. But I was unprepared for the beginning of the day. It announced itself in a crescendo of multicolor until the huge orange ball slid into the sky. It covered everywhere in one swoop. Many times the ending of day was like watching the finale of the fireworks on the Fourth. The glowing sphere would often hide between clouds and throw color rays that lit up clouds or painted the side of the ship. These special revelations each day were always unpredictable and awesome, evidence of God. Gn.1:3-5, “…God said let there be light and there was…said that it was good…and God divided the light from the darkness…”

Our ship acted unaffected by any movement of waves that would crop up. The least white caps would cause other ships around us to spend most of their time rolling from side to side and nose diving through the waves. But a new day came. We were heading toward the North Atlantic and trying to out run a major storm midway between the U.S. and Europe. The ship rattled as the cranks pushed us to our destination. All the hatches were shut and everything was tied down except the seamen on board. Most of us struggled to maintain our composure as seasickness was taking its toll. Fortunately, we caught the tale end of the storm.

I was sick, but sent up top to check some equipment, (a ploy to get me some fresh air).

The flight deck was normally 100 feet from the water, but not that day. Swells all around were well over the height of the ship. The winds were furious. Fear erased the sickness in my stomach. Ps. 107:24-30. “They saw the Lord's works, His wonderful works in the deep. He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea. Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish, they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed. They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.”

Ultimately, we came out of the storm, to “still waters”. God was gracious. Now in Christ I can stand, “…persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Rm.8 Today these snapshots take on new meaning.