Adjusting Our Sails

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And the disciples awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

– Mark 4:37-39 New King James Version (NKJV)

Living life can easily be compared to being in the midst of a storm. The winds blow around us, sometimes strongly enough to to blow us off our feet. Certainly winds can move us to places we never intended to go.

We lean into the gentle breezes, feeling assured that we are safe. But the strong breezes can frighten us, and gale force winds control our journey in disconcerting ways.

At times, I have felt helpless against winds that would carry me where I didn’t want to go. At other times, gale force winds took complete control of my life.

Storms will come upon us from time to time. I am comforted, though, by the words of Elizabeth Edwards:

“She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.”