Did my bird and plant chores this morning under Father Sky’s summer sky sketch, his blue sky and white fluffy clouds coloring a beautiful sunny day. When the real feel temperature hit 104 degrees, I left the porch and headed to my reading chair and my quote books.

Ventured back on the porch at 7:15 PM to enjoy the beauty of the magic of twilight. The breeze is slight, only pinging the smallest of the wind chimes. The sun is as bright and blinding white as a naked light bulb. She’s getting dressed to roll down the horizon on the arm of Father Sky. The air is cooler as twilight calls to the darkness.

I’m swinging sideways so I don’t knock the pint jar of sweet tea off the small red table by the swing. I’m like a child pretending I’m floating in a small wooden rowboat, safely anchored close to the shore, dragging my hand making ripples on the surface of the cool water, watching dragon flies and lightning bugs dance on the lily pads in rhythm with the music of a frog croaking symphony.

I wrote the following blog on this date in 2023 and I think it’s worth sharing again with a few new thoughts and a little revision. I remembered these words as I lay back in the swing tonight.

I love this quote. “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails,” Elizabeth Edwards. We can easily compare our life to a sailboat, adjusting our sails as we travel the waters of our lives. We can’t control the winds that blow trials and tribulations into our lives but we can always adjust our sails and let God glide us to calm waters. Our journey shapes our character as our attitude determines how well we sail forward.

“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

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. They dress us in life jackets trying to keep us afloat in a fast churning world. As we mature we step onto sleek streamlined sailboats, 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 ocean’s 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. We drop our anchors, finding peace and stability, and learn to rest and recharge before heading to the calm open waters of middle age.

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 pasture’s pond, the oars in the hands of a joyous grandchild. We lay our heads back and trail our fingers through the brackish water knowing our days of sailing through life are now numbered. We’ve navigated unpredictable winds, weathered inevitable storms, and are now gliding smoothly on calm waters.

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. Mark Twain wrote, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

“With Christ in the vessel, I can smile at the storm.” John Newton