God the Protector

Psalm 91: 1-2. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

Years ago, I went on a camping trip to the Florida Keys with a group of friends. As we set up our campsite, we met a couple from western Pennsylvania, who had the misfortune of wrecking both their truck and the boat they were towing with it just before they arrived at big Pine Key.

They promised us a ride on their boat, if we gave them a lift to the auto repair shop to pick up their damaged vehicles. Not long after we launched the boat from the Marina, I began to notice things that lead me to believe this boat trip wasn't such a great idea. The boat had just 20 hours on it - all of them accumulated on a fresh water lake. It was the first boat that this guy ever owned, and he admitted he hadn't spent much time on anyone else's either. This did not stop him from speeding through the shallow waters off the Florida Keys, at a pace that made my face flap in the breeze like a bulldog riding in a convertible. I suggested that he might consider minding the channel markers since the reef was poking up more and more, and the sun was beginning to set. The reply - "what's a camel marker?" set me into a total panic. Within 10 minutes, I was convinced I was going to die and be eaten by sharks before anybody had the chance to id my body. I never prayed so fervently in my life ! Oh, God, please save us. Please make this guy slow down, please make him listen. !

God heard my prayers that day. Not by taking control of the boat, nor its reckless owner, but by reminding me to trust in Him. As my panic turned to calm, I convinced the looney mariner to let me guide him back to the marina. I remembered what my father taught me when we shared time on his fishing boat, and I'm sure God hand a hand in dusting off those rusty skills that day when they were needed most.

Dear God, you are our refuge and fortress when we are threatened, frightened, or weary. Thank you for your protection, and let us learn to trust you to bring us safely back to harbor when things go wrong.

Amen.