My Uncle Tom was a tug boat captain in days gone by when he navigated by use of the stars and a sextant. I remember going down to the docks in San Francisco to see his craft that would make the long haul from there to Japan. In the evenings he’d teach us about seafaring. But also seminary- trained, he’d teach us about the Bible. One of his favorite verses was Psalm 19:1. For years he taught adult Sunday school in a small church. Even in his 80s, he’d pull out his Greek New Testament and prepare a feast for his elderly students.
The Jonah story was one he loved to tell. Jonah went down to Joppa, down into a ship, down below deck, down into the water, and down into the great fish’s belly. Only when he repented and trusted the Navigator did he at last end up at the right shore.
Visits with Uncle Tom always reminded me that reaching our ultimate destination on that peaceful shore necessitates careful navigation through the storms of life. What it requires is the supreme Navigator, the Captain of our souls—Jesus Christ.