Jesus, the Pilot

The island was large, the lake much larger. Even when the forecast is good, squalls can happen. That was the scene one sunny day. We were caught in one of those unexpected squalls, donned our life jackets, offered up some ragged prayers, and hoped we wouldn’t be smashed against the rocks. There it was, a large group of rocks with trees, perhaps shelter, a mini-island of sorts, precariously close to the main island. My father was steering, but Jesus was the pilot as we made our way to the leeward side of this chunk of granite and pine. My mother said it all when she named it “Savior Island.” In life’s unexpected squalls — health concerns, relationships, economics, or a “Why-did-I-do-that?” moment, we need to trust God to maneuver us to the safety of his protective arms.