Any of you who have spent time either with marine activities (sailing, fishing or beach bumming) may have heard the little adage: "Red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky in the morning, sailors take warning."
As a child, I spent many evenings and mornings on the shores of Lake Erie. Our summer home was on South Bass Island, and fishing or sailing were ALWAYS a hoped for possibility. My father, a retired Navy officer, taught me (almost as soon as I could pay attention to the sky) to watch for the signs of fair or foul weather by looking to the sky. It always amazed me how accurately the morning sky would foretell whether or not it was safe to journey out on the lake. If the sky was ablaze in the morning it almost always meant that there would be some sort of weather activity that would keep wise sailors and fishermen on the shore.
It wasn't until just recently that I realized that this wisdom is based in scripture! Take a look at Matthew 16: 2-3. Jesus is being tested by the Pharisees and Sadducees, who ask him to show them a sign from heaven. He responds, "When it is evening, you will say, 'It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." (Jesus was referring to matters far more critical than whether or not one might want to fish or sail. Jesus was confronting narrow, hardened minds that refuse to grasp God's truths being revealed through the Son!)
So what of any of that? I suppose you could take it as a bit of trivia.... but, since I continue to be a sailor, I treasure those words of Jesus as a way that His wisdom reaches over thousands of years and connects to my activity TODAY.
Whether I am heading for my boat or remaining on land, my eye regularly travels to the horizon...and the words, "Red sky at night, sailors delight.... Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning....flow naturally through my mind. I am reminded to be aware of subtle changes in situations or relationships. I am reminded that often (more often than not, perhaps) I receive adequate warning of approaching complications or trials. I am reminded that God, My Lord, is always, always guiding, providing counsel and wisdom, protection and safe passage.
Are there scripture verses that have resonated throughout your life? Tell about them!
2 comments:
In Luke 15 Jesus used the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate to the Pharisees and teachers why he kept company with sinners. In verse 4 Jesus says “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” This has always been precious scripture to me. All of my life I have had animals in my care. From childhood on I have easily identified with Jesus’ meaning in this parable. As a child I cared for baby birds and rabbits that had been abandoned or orphaned. I also saw this parable lived out in my parents and grandparents examples. My family kept company with broken people. As an adult I know that Christ went to the cross to find me. With eternal eyes he saw everything I have ever done and everything I will ever do and loved me completely. Even if I had been the only one lost he would have gone to the cross just for me.
When you ask about Scripture verses that have resonated throughout our lives, I would say that for me, those special verses sometimes change with...the seasons....time...my understanding of their meaning...and my spiritual needs at the time.
I'm always comforted anew by verses that I may have heard and loved...Psalms....parables....a time for...and so on, but there are life events that bring up comforting favorites for that special occasion. And amazingly, the verse is always more powerful and meaningful than ever before.
How comforting.
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