COURSE CORRECTIONS

Jeremiah 10:1-11:23; Colossians 3:18-4:18; Psalm 78:56-72; Proverbs 24:28-29

“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die…. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you make righteous judgments, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.”

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ…. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

“But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws. They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow.”

“Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. And don’t say, ‘Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!’”

If power is measured by the actual impact of a thing, its ability to actually affect course and achieve a destination, then the most powerful thing on a boat does not require an engine, for it can take advantage of even the most subtle, natural forces. Forget motors, nuclear reactors, sonar, telecommunications equipment and giant generators and boilers. The thing that most affects direction on a ship is a benign, relatively small piece of metal called the rudder. Without a rudder, even the largest and most sophisticated ships would struggle aimlessly. Without a rudder,  destination is pretty much irrelevant.  All the other power equipment and energy of the vessel is subject to the dictates of the rudder.

In human life, the analogy is obvious. Without a rudder to channel and direct our energy, we founder. We may still build up power, and even expel great amounts of it in our daily lives, but if the focus is not directed as it should be by a spiritual rudder, we risk wasting both that energy and a whole lot of time.

I learned the importance of a rudder, and a whole lot more, fooling around with kayaks last summer. My first time in one, the sleek, new unit had a fairly sophisticated steering system. It literally cut through the water and took almost no effort to master the craft – at least, for the purpose of our little river jaunt – with just a tweak of the rudder. My wife and I finished the trip feeling pretty good about the possibility of maybe purchasing a pair for early mornings at the lake. But later that same summer, we went to her sister’s place for a weekend. The ancient kayaks there were nothing like those in which we’d had such an enjoyable experience. Bulky and, more important, smooth bottomed, these relative behemoths had a mind of their own. It did not seem to matter which side of the craft we paddled on or how we turned the paddle. The stinkin’ things went where they wanted and flatly refused to cooperate with even the most aggressive stroke. Finally, just before drifting clear across the lake from where we wanted to be, my wife and I both learned two valuable lessons. First, use a rudder; it just makes life a whole lot easier and more efficient. Second, though, when you’ve lost your rudder, the most effective course corrections are never just a matter of effort, no matter how earnest. No amount of power in our stroke got those rudderless kayaks one whit closer to our goal. In fact, unfocused power simply pushed us farther off course. We eventually learned the trick was in finesse. When drifting through life without a rudder, direction is best determined by small, circumspect strokes and judging the results before taking another. Using this “small stroke-evaluate” method, we finally reached where we aimed and got home safely.

There isn’t a lot to add to this real life parable that is not obvious. But it deserves a little recasting nonetheless, because we all at times struggle too much. We substitute unbridled energy for effective, considerate strategy and so find ourselves off course before we know it. Jesus had a much more positive approach to the rough waters of life: don’t struggle. Use your rudder. And if you can’t work it or the storms of life seem to have snapped it off, take your foot off the gas, so to speak. Slow down, and use small, controlled strokes until the destination and course come back into focus. Throughout life, we all have to learn how to steer through new paradigms. It’s a wonder we don’t lose our bearings more often. But when we do, it’s a comfort to know we actually have a Rudder that will guide us safely home. And even if we cannot find the handle for a time, a little bit of calm consideration and gentle perseverance can be just the thing to get us back on track.