Such a nice day to enjoy the porch. Hot summer sunshine and a cloudless cerulean blue sky. Wind chime and bird symphonies welcoming the early morning. The faithful cardinals are all over the yard and oak tree. A heavy breeze is keeping the porch cool. Wind chimes’ clappers are pinging just one pipe at a time, creating the prettiest melodies. I love these quiet days to ponder and to count my many blessings.

I was enjoying the relaxing morning when the fighting finches arrived. They fought over the feeders then left to perch on the power lines, fighting and squabbling over their perch places. Four tiny finches, several long power lines, but they just can’t stop arguing. They need some chill pills. I’m going to need one after my neighbor gets his new concrete drive way poured. Don’t know what the workers are doing but it’s loud and a white dust cloud has been floating by. The porch peacefulness has been shattered. I’m going in the house to my reading chair and ponder out the window in the air conditioning.

Ventured back on the porch at 7:15 PM. The breeze is slight, only pinging the smallest of the wind chimes. I’m swinging sideways so I don’t knock the fruit jar of sweet tea off the small table by the swing. I’m like a child pretending I’m floating in a small row boat, close to the shore, letting my hand drag, making ripples on the surface of the water. Watching dragon flies and lightning bugs dance on the lily pads in rhythm with the music of a frog croaking symphony.

I’m reminded of a quote a friend sent me this morning. “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails,” — Elizabeth Edwards. I’m thinking we can compare our life to a sail boat, adjusting our sails as we travel the waters of our lives.

We’re born a dinghy. Small and safe riding the smooth ocean waves of childhood. Our dinghies are rowed by our parents who try to steer us from the rough waters and overpowering stormy seas. As we mature we ride the sleek sails boats, our masts tall and straight. Our sails proud, colorful and fearless. We’re learning to be the captains of our own ships. Learning to navigate through the calm and stormy waters of life.

When we sail by ourselves from our home waters, out into the world, we’re standing on the deck of a three-masted baroque. Sails catching the wind carrying us swiftly toward our adult world of joys and sorrows. We’re adjusting our own sails now and we ride the stormy seas with God in our pockets.

As we age and retire, we’re back in our small sailboat gliding across smooth contented waters. Sailing towards home and beautiful sunsets. In the twilight of old age we’re back in a dinghy in the safe waters of a pond. The oars in the hands of a joyous grandchild.

When we leave this planet Earth we travel on a sleek golden yacht to heaven docking at God’s door. Reunited and welcomed home by our loved ones who sailed there ahead of us.

“As you sail through life, don’t avoid rough waters. Sail on…because calm seas never make you a skillful sailor. Be strong always because God will be your anchor,” — Unknown