[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 10/May/2026]
We always enjoy Martin coming to speak to us on a Thursday morning, especially when he has been on holiday. We see his photographs on the screen and hear about the things that happened with his family as part of his message. I thought I would try it here, without the photographs!
Last week we spent five enjoyable days with fine weather on the Isle of Wight at Norton Grange. The most exciting day was the one before we came home. We had booked a boat ride from Cowes along the Solent to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth harbour to see the naval ships, and then back again. The sky was clear blue and the sun shining. Perfect. Except that unusually there was a powerful sea current in one direction and a strong wind in the opposite direction.
This made the sea very rough so that the boat was tossed up and down. We and our friends sat in the open at the back of the boat. Every time the front of the boat hit a wave the stern went up in the air and came down again. The captain decided to head towards the shelter of the mainland. This meant that we were now going across the sea current and the wind, making the boat roll from side to side. One moment we were looking down at the sea and the next moment up at the sky, until we got nearer to the shelter of the land. The only person who was seasick was a crew member! The four of us on the stern found it all very exhilarating.
On our way back from Portsmouth the sea appeared calmer but the captain “explained” that the sea was just as rough, but that we had changed our position and now the wind and current were helping us. The next day on the ferry home the Solent was completely calm, but we wouldn’t have missed that boat ride the previous day for anything.
It made me think about our lives being carried up and down. As followers of Jesus even when we have the blessings of God’s sunshine and blue sky, we suddenly find ourselves buffeted by life’s wind and waves. But we can find shelter in the love and strength of our Lord Jesus as we learn to experience His presence with us. As we do this we change our position and what may be worrying us doesn’t appear to be as threatening, as we become more patient, and deepen our faith and trust in our Saviour. We can even find joy and thankfulness in these circumstances.
Jesus says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
John 14 v1 [NLT]
As the old song says about Him, “And he will safely guide across the ocean wide, until you reach at last the heavenly harbour.”
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Last Sunday’s reflection: The Pain of Unrequited Love by Helen Ruffhead
Contributed by Michael Goble; © Michael Goble