Greetings my friends! Got a moment for a little sea tale?

I once had the privilege of spending a few days aboard the Coast Guard Cutter USS Hawk. It was quite an experiencing living aboard the vessel and watching the crew conduct their responsibilities; I made myself useful in the galley by cooking them a spaghetti dinner! The crew were professional and diligent, but also very dedicated to the nightly UNO game they played. Needless to say I was beaten soundly in each round of cards.

At night I found myself on the bridge talking with a young Coastguardsman who was completing his final patrol aboard the Hawk. He was moving on to advancement schooling and looking forward to the future. He had the 2000 to 0000 watch (that’s 8pm to 12am for us regular folks), so it was dark by the time we began our conversation.

The bridge was illuminated by red night vision lights, and the ships running lights were on to show its location in the water to passing vessels. Other than the light of the Bolivar lighthouse, a tug and barge moored off the stern, and the occasional passing freighter, the USCGC Hawk was pretty much alone on the water.

We had a steady breeze from the north and the boat rocked back and forth in the swells. The swaying prompted me to ask the young watchman; what was the roughest weather he had encountered aboard the ship? He sighed, smiled and shook his head, obviously this was a notable experience.

He told me about how one time the ship was coming down the coast of North Carolina, coming from Baltimore and making for Galveston. They hit some nasty weather off the Outer Banks (a notorious stretch of water known for its treacherous location and hazard to ships). He told me how the ship (only 87 feet long) plowed through the swells with geysers of water crashing across the bow. The ship would rise up on a wave, and come crashing down with spray casting up on the windows of the bridge.

He started laughing and exclaimed, “Every dang one of us was seasick as could be,” I have softened some of his more “salty” word usage. He then explained that those not curled up on the benches of the galley, were curled up on the bridge floor. Everyone not navigating the boat or operating the controls and engine was lying horizontal somewhere, just trying to cling on to their stomachs.

We both laughed as he explained just how glad he was to reach dockside and stop moving!

I asked him what anyone could do to prepare for such a situation, his response was very memorable. He just grinned and said, “Just hold fast, batten down the hatches and pray your stomach remains steady, other than that there is not a thing you can do but ride out the storm.”
The phrase “batten down the hatches” originated in the early 1800’s Navy. It signified preparing for a storm by fastening down canvas over doorways and hatches (openings) with strips of wood called battens.

His comment made me think about how we as Christians, when facing trials or tribulation, sometimes can only pray and endure the storm around us.

Christ Jesus endured the cross for just such situations. So that we may never be alone in our trials and when all else fails we have someone to turn to and give us comfort AND GUIDANCE. James states, “Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when they have stood the test they will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” This means that as Christians trials WILL come, but if we endure and remain steadfast in our faith our inheritance is everlasting life! That is enough to sustain us through anything.

We don’t always have to remain positive and strong during difficult times, we just must remain faithful to God. That doesn’t mean we don’t get angry or ask questions, it doesn’t mean we don’t hang on for dear life and wish things were better. It means that we endure the hardship while continuing to trust in Jesus. No matter how dark or stormy it may be. Christ is with us now, tomorrow, and in all the days to come.

So when we see the storm clouds on the horizon and their seems to be no other options but to enter the maelstrom…simplyhold fast, batten down the hatches, pray our faith remains steady, and ride out the storm with Christ alongside us; guiding us to safe harbor.

If Christ is our pilot, then smooth seas and bright horizons will always follow the darkest and nastiest of storms.

Hold fast my friends, to both your faith and your stomach!

Your fellow steadfast brother in Christ,

Pastor Mike McVey
First United Methodist Church, Fairfield
ACS Chaplain – U.S. Coast Guard Base Galveston
(P.S. If you would like to contact or receive Pastor Mike’s weekly newsletter simply email him at pastormike@fumcfairfield.org)