For my friend’s birthday, I presented her with a drawing of a sailboat. She had wanted one as a tattoo for some time, but had no design in mind. She had asked me if I could draw one up. It had been a dream of mine to design a tattoo, it meant trust in my vision through it’s permanence.
As I drew, I thought of the beauty of sailboats. How well it describes how we should live our lives.
There is work involved with a sailboat. You don’t simply ride the wave, it’s not just free floating, you aren’t idly sitting by. The weather switches and the current shifts, and work is required to sail through the changing conditions.
The key to navigating the waters is being conscious of the wind. There’s a simple phrase, “you cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”
You must make the necessary effort so when the wind blows, you’re ready to glide. The wind of the Holy Spirit moves us, but we need to be conscious of it’s presence in order to sail.
And in the ocean of life, cliche as it sounds, there will be thunderstorm moments, when concentration is necessary, when your heart is beating quickly as you put in strength in pulling at the sails, when there is a sense of urgency. And there will be moments when the sailing is smooth, when the sky is blue and the sun is shining and you can take a moment to close your eyes and let the breeze brush your cheek as your heart beats slowly at pace with the gentle waves.
I had been placed on a team with this friend for most of the race. For ten whole months, we rode the ocean together. We went through storms and we went through calm waters. But for the last month she was called to start a pilgrimage from Costa Rica to Panama and I was called to stay anchored in Jaco.
A few days after she left, she sent me a photo. She had finally gotten the sailboat tattoo during one of her stops.
For the last month, she followed the winds of the Holy Spirit and set sail. And I could trust the sailing skills she developed these last ten months. I could trust her ability to discern the direction of the winds and trim her sails to it. I could trust she was living her life like a sailboat.
For the last month of the race, we were given the freedom to individually listen to the Lord and follow His lead. Many members of my last team were called to start a pilgrimage to our final debrief in Panama City. The Lord has called me to stay in Jaco, Costa Rica and continue serving the ministry I served for the past month.
I was called to stay at Ocean’s Edge. It started as a surf camp for kids, an an avenue to share the Gospel. It has grown into so much more. This includes mural painting, ocean and park clean ups, leading Sunday school, homeless feedings. I specifically feel led to help with their prayer initiative and marketing campaign for the city. As well as try to get someone to teach me how to make a good cup of coffee. Maybe if I get experience in Costa Rica, someone will hire me as a barista when I get back to the states.
