It’s Friday and I’m on the ferry heading home, looking forward to a restful weekend, broken only by cheering Chloe on in her basketball game.

The past 8 days have been long.

Last Thursday I boarded Alaska Airlines flight 204 and headed south to Cabo San Lucas.  Lest you think it was a glamorous several days of basking in the sunshine on a beautiful beach, let me set the record straight.  It was a work trip and I spent most of my waking hours interviewing crew members, digging into various records and wandering the bowels of a 238’ passenger ship in La Paz.

I got home on Sunday night which was the longest I had been away from Lisha and the kids since my surgery.

In spite of the sleepless nights in Baja it was good to be in our old stomping grounds.  I spent most of 9 winters in the 90s sailing around the Sea of Cortez and Magdalena Bay on one of our ships.  I love the feel and smell of Baja.  Alisha and I had our first “real” date in La Paz.  We had ice cream at La Fuente’, and went shopping for tennis shoes for me, which I promptly left in the cab upon returning to the ship. For some reason love leaves me lacking in clarity of thought.

We have many fond memories of our time working on the ship in Baja.  Hiking on remote islands in the Sea of Cortez, throwing the baseball in the dunes in Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side of the peninsula, and frequently visiting the ice cream shop in La Paz.

Two things haven’t changed in the past 21 years, our love of ice cream and my total infatuation with my date that night.

Christmas was great.  It was the typical gift unwrapping mayhem that makes us so thankful.

The reindeer only nibbled at their carrots per usual.

We spent New Years at Mom’s house in Texas.  I had the wonderful opportunity to see many of my family.  It was great to look them in the eyes, give them a hug and thank them for all their prayers and encouragement.  My brother, Todd made a head count of all the people in Mom’s house one night.  I believe the final tally was 27 humans (five who were age 4 and under) and one well-behaved black lab.  It was total chaos in its most beautiful form.

All of this preceded some dark clouds looming on the horizon.  My next quarterly MRI and doctor’s appointment was approaching.  This past Wednesday we had the MRI and doc visit.  The doctor said that there were some changes from my previous one.  I asked him if it was good news or bad news.  He said it was just news.  I asked him if he was concerned and he said “no”.  Since I don’t have any symptoms he wasn’t concerned.

I texted some good friends of mine what my doctor had said.  They are experienced doctors, and prayer warriors that I have looked up to for 35 years or more.   They texted me back right away with encouraging thoughts which lifted a huge burden off of me.  It’s a blessing to have folks like that in your corner, let me tell you.

The dark clouds hung around for awhile as Lisha and I seemed to suffer an emotional hangover from the whole experience.  I know this is our life going forward and I know the tools we have to help us are the prayers of many and focusing on the day at hand.

Yesterday during my quiet time on the ferry, I read a passage in my Bible about another storm.  I’ve read it many times over the years and have heard the story since I was very young, but this time something new caught my eye.

In John 6:16-20 it says, “When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.  A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.  When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat,

The thing that caught my attention is the part where it says “Then they were willing to take him into the boat.”, like they were on the fence about letting Jesus join them in the boat.

I can imagine the conversation.

“Should we let him in the boat?”

“I don’t know.  It’s really crowded in here and he seems to be doing pretty good.  I mean, he caught up with us.”

“But he is a really good rower and I’ve got a big blister on my hand.”

“OK, let’s vote.  Who’s willing to take him into the boat?  7-5…Hey Jesus, you wanna come in the boat?”

They had seen Jesus do all sorts of miracles.  In fact, just before this he had fed 5000 people with a couple of catfish and a basket of hush puppies (I’m from the south and this is how we see it.) and yet in the midst of trying to row in strong winds and large waves they seemed reluctant to let this guy WALKING ON WATER in to their boat to help them.

I’m sure I’m often the same way, although this past week we were desperate for Jesus to be in the boat with us.

In those days of doubt in a storm, when I find myself trying to row myself ashore, I need to remember what the Water Walker has done for me and my family in the past.  What great confidence it gives me to know that Jesus will get in the boat if we ask and help us to the far shore.