Spirituality and Sailing

 Spirituality and Sailing

If you are not a sailor—too bad.  No really, if you are not a sailor let me tell you a few things that you need to know.

# 1.  Sailing requires wind.  Yep hard to believe but it’s true.  No wind—no sailing.

# 2.  Even when you have wind, there is still the possibility of the boat not moving or moving in the wrong direction.

# 3.  Being a sailor requires some elementary concepts of how to ‘catch the wind’ and adjust the sail(s) and rudder to get the boat moving.

A sailor needs to understand how to adjust the boat’s riggings to move the boat in the required direction.  This is not particularly rocket science, but it does require some knowledge and some practice.  It is best to learn sailing from a sailor.  It is best to crew a boat for a friend (read do what you are told by the captain) than to solo sail.  Be prepared to get wet and fail.  Anyone learning to sail will probably dump the boat over—a number of times—depending on which particular boat you are sailing.

What does this have to do with spirituality and your spiritual journey?

# 1.  Spirituality requires God.  No God—no spirituality.

# 2.  Even when you have God it is possible that you never get going on your spiritual journey or you move in the wrong direction.

# 3.  Being a spiritual person requires some elementary concepts of how to listen to the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.

A spiritual people need to understand how to adjust their lives, minds, actions to move their lives in the right direction.  God is always moving.  God is always talking.  God is always there.  God is always showing  things—but we must learn to adjust their lives to respond.  The best way to do this is to learn from a veteran.  Some one who has ‘sailed’ with God for a long time.  Look for a teacher/ prophet/mentor/spiritual director.  Be prepared to fail.  That’s okay!  That’s how you learn.  

John 3:8 (NKJV) 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Acts 2:2 (NKJV) 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

John 20:22-23 (NKJV) 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NKJV) The Dry Bones Live

1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”

4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”