The beach at Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, is the most beautiful beach in the world. Or the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean. Anyway, it’s the most beautiful beach to my husband, Bill, and I, even though it’s not on those “official” lists. Wait a minute, this is my story, so I get to tell it the way I see it. Starting over: The beach at Treasure Cay is the most beautiful beach in the world. My husband and I have enjoyed a lot of good times there. The water is simply an unbelievable color I call “Bahamian Blue”. My friend, Kelly, and I made that up because there are no other words for it. Bill and I love walking the beach, cooling off in the water, resting under the palm trees, watching the dolphins play, as well as enjoying dinner and umbrella drinks at the beach bar.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco in September 2019. The extensive damage precluded travel to the islands for the winter sailing season in 2019. The Covid 19 pandemic stole our plans to sail to Abaco in November 2020. So, when a neighbor asked Bill to help him move his boat to Abaco in May 2021, and invited me to join in, we were excited!
The sail to Abaco was estimated to take 3 1/2 days straight through. I’m not a big fan of long voyages, I much prefer sailing few hours, then stopping to enjoy the day on a sandy beach somewhere. But that wasn’t the plan for this passage, it actually wasn’t even possible, but that doesn’t keep it from being my preference! I did a fair amount of praying for God’s guidance on whether or not I was meant to accompany the guys on this trip. My presence wasn’t required, as two captains were going, and I don’t even know how to drive a catamaran. But my husband wanted me to join them, and, of course, I was daydreaming about that Bahamian Blue water!
The morning of Thursday, May 27, 2021, the three of us departed Jacksonville, Florida, planning to arrive in Abaco the morning of Monday, May 31st. Two dolphins met us at the mouth of the St. Johns River-I’m sure they were there to bid us bon voyage!
We had nice weather for the entire first day and the sunset was spectacular!
Sometime during the night, while Bill and I were sleeping in the cockpit, I began to smell burning rubber. The next thing I knew Bill shot up like a rocket and yelled “shut the engine down”! Although while we were in forward motion I was feeling fine, as soon as we stopped, the waves really started to make me sea sick. We backtracked 20 miles and required the assistance of a tow boat to safely dock in St. Augustine. My anxiety was rising. My confidence in being able to continue on this voyage was falling fast. I stepped off the boat to ease my tummy and pray for God’s guidance.
The Bible is full of God’s guidance for us, and, although I don’t do it perfectly, I do seek God’s will on a daily basis.
Obedience to God’s Word is an important tenet in my life, as I hope it is in yours, as well. But just how does God speak to us today? I believe God reveals His Word to us through the Bible, through the church, through fellow Christians, and through our conscience thoughts.
So, I found a shady spot on the dock, sat down, sent off a couple texts summarizing my situation and asking for prayer. Then, I closed my eyes and asked Jesus to show me whether He wanted me to continue on this sailing trip, or return to Jacksonville on that Friday morning. Just as my tummy calmed down, and my anxiety began to retreat, I started getting texts from my Bible study girlfriends. My husband and I attend an online Bible Study based in Nebraska and we lead a small in-person Bible Study in Jacksonville. Cheryl and Tatiana, the only ladies from our tiny Bible Study, each provided a way back to Jacksonville for me that day. Unbelievable, huh? Coincidence that both families had already planned to be in St. Augustine that day anyway? I don’t think so!
I spoke with Bill about it and we decided together that God was providing a way for me to graciously de-board before I threw up or started crying! Moments before I stepped off the boat, two more dolphins showed up-I took that as another vote of confidence.
The boat was repaired and headed South, while I headed North with Cheryl. However, although safe, my husband later told me that the weather was rough the second night, which he knows would have made me sick, and that the boat continued to have engine troubles off and on for the next few days. Bill enjoyed the passage, and learned a lot along the way, but I’m sure thankful that I listened to God pointing me back to Jacksonville.
Do you believe that God still speaks to His people today? Are you listening for Him?
