Short Stories

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Broken Vessel

The name Broken Vessel became more appropriate by the hour. I felt like the captain of the Titanic as I surveyed the damage of my borrowed boat; dismantled engine, sails torn and tattered, radio am/fm - not 2 way.

The only thing that could make life better was a storm.

On the horizon the clouds grew darker.

They say the best way to handle a storm is to head straight into it. That sounded like suicide but it was probably the sanest decision I had made all week.

A gentle rain fell on my face and a calmness fall over me. As I steered into the storm, the sea grew rougher. I started to question the brilliance of this idea. Why would a man with no sea experience charter a boat and go out into the middle of the ocean?

Why else - to find God.

Most people go to a church or a pastor. I went to both. After three weeks of searching, an unknown brother I didn't know told me, "Go to sea."

My grip tightened on the wheel as my mind snapped back to the present. As the waves grew in strength so did my fear. I guess death is a way to find God but I wanted to find Him on this side on eternity.

A huge wave lifted the boat completely out of the water and smashed it hard to the surface. I fell to the floor, held on to a seat brace and cried "Jesus help me."

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Startled, I jerked back. Before me, in a rain slicker, Jesus knelt.

With hand extended He said "Come. We have work to do."

We took turns bailing water and attempting to steer. After six hours of the most exhausting work, the storm broke.

The clouds were amber in color and the ocean was as smooth as glass.

Exhausted we sat on the deck.

"Hello William, I'm Jesus. Glad to meet you."

Shaking hands wasn't enough. We hugged. Or I should say He held me as I wept.

There in His arms I found forgiveness and love.

"Lord, why didn't you just rebuke the winds and calm the sea as you did before?"

To this day I remember what I felt when I heard His words.

"Because the situation wasn't impossible. You just needed a little help."

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