This past Memorial Day we took the day off to enjoy some time together as a family on the beautiful Presque Isle of Lake Erie. It was a perfect day with brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures. A gentle breeze blew across the waters filling everything with sand. However, our picnic lunch and supper never tasted better. After lunch, my husband and I wandered off to another part of the island looking for our own little adventure. By, the way, God can use anything, simple or complex, to teach us life lessons. He can use circumstances or even mini-vacations while we are resting and renewing our physical bodies.
David found a place further down the island that gave tours by boat out on the waters of beautiful Lake Erie. It was while we relaxed on this tour that God talked to me about what He wants me to write about.
In the picture above is the original restored ship that won a battle for America back when it was battling Britain for its Independence. The story goes something like this:
During a difficult naval encounter, the captain of the American ship approached 2 British ships. Both had heavy cannons of one side of their boats. The captain knew that if he want one way or another, his ship would be lost and he and his crew would meet certain death. It was when things looked impossible that an idea came to him. He had lighter weight cannons on both sides of his ship. Could he and his crew survive doing something that was unheard of? Should he take the risk? Yes! What did they have to lose?
The brave captain, under the sites of 2 British ships, aligned his ship so that he could sail right down the middle of the larger and better equipped ships. Since his ship had cannons on both sides of the boat, they fired on both British ships as he sailed a straight path right down the middle! It was a turning point in the war. It was a crazy unheard of thing to do, yet was a brilliant move by a very brave captain. He won that battle by staying true to coarse right straight down through enemy territory.
So many lessons can be learned by this story.
1. Even though the enemy is on both sides of us with his huge cannons, yet if we walk straight and not let the enemy distract us from our course, God will see us through. In PS 23, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for THOU are with me..."
2. When the way looks impossible, God knows what to do. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will be our guide straight through to victory and to Heaven.
3. Don't focus on what you can't do, focus on what you can do with God's help. The captain of the ship had to make that decision...Straight down the middle ignoring the enemy ships. He had a job to do and stayed focused until the battle was won.
4. His bravery changed history. You never know if when we do the hard things that God asks us to, how it can make eternal impact of generations to come.
So, Be brave! Walk straight down the middle!
Thanks for reading!
Donna McHugh
