When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.
33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
I’ll always remember the day we got the good news of our youngest son’s sweat chloride test. Negative. That was such good news. The sweat chloride test was to determine if he had cystic fibrosis. He didn’t. I was greatly relieved. Diane was happy, but she had never thought he had the dread disease.
I’ll always remember the day I made the least romantic marriage proposal ever to Diane. She didn’t say yes then, but 9 months later she did! I remember that day as well.
I’ll always remember the day of my first installation as pastor of Our Saviour and Trinity Lutheran Churches, Vernal, Utah and Rangely, Colorado. I was a washed-out pale fellow, having worried myself sick about what I had gotten Diane, our two kids at that time, and myself into. But I had arrived at my first charge. I was actually a pastor.
I wonder whether some of the soldiers, sailors, the centurion and the boat owner remember the day when, as Luke records, “And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” My various days of remembrance may not be as dramatic as theirs was, but they shaped my life in so many ways. I wonder whether this deliverance shaped the lives of any of the 275 others on that boat. I know it shaped Paul’s life. And Luke’s. Most likely the Centurion who went out of his way to help Paul.
And what about ours? Years ago, I was talking with a woman from the church I was serving at the time. I made the comment that we often learn from our own mistakes. She wisely reminded me, “You don’t have to learn from your own mistakes. You can learn from others’ mistakes as well.”
The same can be said about learning from our successful navigating the trials that come our way. We learn a lot by experiences as varied as good test results or a rocky start to my first ministry call. I learned a lot through the challenges I experienced there, and in all the churches I’ve served. But I don’t have to learn only from my own experiences.
Trusting God’s promises, seeing his hand of protection and provision, and watching Paul’s faithful leadership and commitment to God’s mission are fertile grounds for our spiritual growth. I’m reminded of Romans 15:4. Paul had not yet set foot to Rome when he wrote these words: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Seems pretty clear to me that he took those words to heart. I want to do the same. How about you, dear Reader?
David Bahn - Reflections 