Give Up Your Tiller
We recently returned from a trip to see my brother and sister and their families in Port Townsend, WA. We had an absolute blast sailing across the Straights of Juan de Fuca to San Juan Island, fishing, hiking, and spending
great time with family. Sailing on the 104 year old schooner Martha (www.schoonermartha.org) is always a real treat.
I took a turn at the wheel, steering the boat toward our destination. It’s not as easy as it looks. It requires constant attention to the compass and landmarks and continuous adjustments, however slight, to the tiller (rudder) in order to stay on course.
After we were home I took the WestSide 2:52 boys out on the Klamath River in our 14’ and 16’ aluminum boats, the Albert Ray and the Lena B. I rigged up a tiller on the Albert Ray and that tiller became our object lesson for the day.
In a row boat you face one direction and row in another. The rower’s back is toward the direction the boat is traveling. This requires the rower to frequently turn around to make sure the boat is headed where he wants it to go. He has to make adjustments with the oars to keep the boat on course. With a tiller, someone sitting in the back but facing forward, can steer the boat. The rower only has to row.
Luke 4:1 tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert where he was tempted by the devil. It’s as if the Spirit was at the tiller of Jesus’ life and steered him to the desert. Jesus rowed.
Who is at the tiller of your life? Are you trying to row and steer your boat through this life?
I know that when I am at the tiller I avoid rough water, rapids, conflict, hard times, and times of testing. But when the Spirit has the tiller of my life He sometimes takes me through all of these…and tells me to keep rowing. I can’t see where I’m going some of the time; it’s like I’m walking through this life backward. But the Spirit is at the tiller and He has perfect vision of the future. I can trust Him. After all, He led Jesus through the desert; He can do the same for you and me.
Give up your tiller and keep rowing!
Pastor John