I awoke
in the night to intermittent horn blasts while staying on the coast for a short
writing retreat. What were they? My mind rifled through possibilities. Were
ships making the sounds or were the British invading again as they did back in
1815 ? Early in the morning I went to check it out by car and as soon as I crossed the
causeway to the beach, I realized the issue. I found myself in dense fog which must have set those horns blaring.
But what was the source of the sounds? I’ve since read in the local
paper they originated from a couple of dredges working in the shipping channel.
The article cited rule thirty-five of the International Navigation rules which
I investigated. To paraphrase it says vessels standing still in the water when
in limited visibility are required by law to sound blasts at not more than two-minute
intervals.
Later, I hopped on my bike and headed toward the beach. Folks sitting
in beach chairs could see each other but not the water and my visibility was
just enough to stop my bike if something were in front of me.
The fog was with us off and on for days and so were the horns trying to
help those huge cargo ships coming through the channel avoid collisions. As I
stood at the pier one morning, I couldn’t see it, but engines churned
as a giant vessel made its way through
the channel, courtesy of the horns and navigation technologies.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “We don’t yet see things
clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist” (I Corinthians 13:12
The Message).
We’ve all experienced times in life when we can’t see our hands in
front of us and have no idea what could happen next. For us, it feels like a
collision could be imminent. But God is present in the fog of circumstance and faithful
to be with us to guide us, sounding the warning like the fog horns, helping us
know in limited visibility how to avoid a crash.
And sometimes, with everything else cloaked in mist and distractions minimized, that is when we can hear most clearly the voice of the Lord.
In a recent sermon, my pastor husband pointed out that in our
difficulties, God has set limits just as he did with Job when he allowed the
enemy to test him. The foggy time will not last forever, so let’s continue to
trust and listen to the Lord.
Prayers for you, friends, who may find yourself in the fog. God is
close.
As Valentines Day approaches, an author colleague is hosting fourteen other authors (including me) in a giveaway. The details are on her site and will go live on February 1. On that date, click on the image below to www.SuzieWaltner.com. I hope you win!!
