In the Groove

I can certainly say that it has been a year of firsts for me. No sooner had I gotten back in town from my Eastern Shore fishing excursion than I got a text from Capt. David Walker asking if I was interested in going fishing offshore over the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Well, I have received several invitations from folks over the past couple of years to fish offshore but none of them materialized due to bad weather, so I jumped all over this invite, deciding to turn it into a beach vacation for my family and parents. And to make it even more special, my father was invited to go offshore with us as well. David had indicated that he wanted to get a very early start due to the prime fishing conditions and holiday weekend, so the Jesus Freak (48' Blackwell) pulled out of Pirates Cove Marina just a few minutes after five on Saturday morning with nine of us on board. Many other vessels were headed out around this time as well, and once we had navigated the narrow, winding channel past Wanchese, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, beneath Bonner Bridge and through Oregon Inlet, it was smooth sailing out to the fishing grounds. For my first time being offshore, I could not have been more blessed. A great team of folks, near slick conditions for the Atlantic Ocean, three white marlin released and eight or nine raised throughout the day, including one blue marlin estimated by several on board to be around 400 or 500 pounds. Needless to say, the saltwater bug continues to gnaw at me!

Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

I noticed a pattern during the initial ride from Pirates Cove out to Oregon Inlet that stuck with me. It was still dark when many of us left the marina, and each crew took extra precautions in order to keep their vessels in the narrow, winding channel through Roanoke Sound and Walter Slough. They did not just rely on their assumptions or interpretations of the right path to guide them out to the safety of open water. Instead, they were diligent in using spot lights to focus ahead on the desired direction of travel, heeded closely the channel markers and buoys, listened to guidance on the radio from boats ahead and stayed in their wakes, and kept a safe distance between boats both in front and behind. The fleet worked together to make it safely to their destination - the open Atlantic.

It seemed to me to be strikingly similar to Jesus' cautionary words in Matthew Chapter 7. He warns us that the way that leads to life is narrow, while the way that leads to destruction is broad. Jesus advises us that in order to reach our desired destination - eternal life with Jesus in Heaven, we will need to enter the narrow gate and stay on the narrow way which He has designed. And in order to do so, we need to use all the resources that He has given us - the light of His Word, the warning signs that mark the edge of the way, the wisdom and guidance of seasoned believers who have already navigated down the way we are going, and the ability to see and know where others are steering or have already steered off course. Had we left the channel and attempted to take a straighter, easier or more appealing route to open waters, we would have certainly run aground, and most likely damaged the boat and endangered the lives of those aboard. Similarly, many are fooled into entering through the wide gate and continuing down the easy, broad path that ultimately leads them to destruction.

I ask you to examine your life and see which gate you are entering and which way you are on right now. Where is it leading you? Are you making the most of the people and resources that God has given you to help on your way? God did not tell us that entering the narrow gate and staying on the narrow way would be straightforward or easy, but He did ensure us that it was the only way to achieve life and reach our desired destination. - GE