The Young Ship

  

   Carole was a fine, sturdy craft…in the mind of the Master Shipbuilder. He sang while he worked on the blueprint, and later the workmen whistled as they hammered and sawed to create such a beauty. Yes, Carole would be a lovely ship, they thought, and time would prove that they were right. With a smile of approval the Master Builder folded his arms and watched as the final coat of paint was smoothed across the brow, then as he waited for it to dry he fashioned with his own hands a name plate worth of such a sturdy vessel. The christening of the Carole was well attended, and on a

envigorating spring morning, while a sprightly breeze was blowing, the ship set sail for the first time. How the people cheered as those glistening white sails unfurled and she cut the current through the blue, blue sea.

   The Carole set sail on many a voyage after that first departure.

      As first her hold was lightly filled and she could race merrily through the dancing white caps. Sometimes a stiff breeze would come up. It frightened Carole and she would scurry back to the safety of the harbor. But as time went on, Carole got braver and would venture further and further away. Sometimes the Master Builder would watch with knitted brow. Was Carole developing a willful streak? How would she manage on such vast and dangerous seas if she took her own ways? He shook his head slowly and watched her bounce gaily on the waves---in the distance.

   The inevitable happened and Carole was caught far from the harbor when a terrific storm rolled in. Carole panicked and would have loved to have found a safe haven, but they were all too far away, and threatening waves were knocking her about. Much to the dismay of the Master Shipbuilder who was watching from afar, Carole was driven so forcefully that she ended up wounded and broken on a small island far away from home. There Carole stayed while careless hands did a haphazard repair, making her barely seaworthy and took her out on pleasure jaunts that left her achingly sad and longing for home.

   One day Carole glimpsed the Harbor lights from afar and determined she would make it back home regardless of the effort it would take.

   The Master Shipbuilder and all the workmen rejoiced when after many long days and weary nights they saw the forlorn ship with tattered sales come limping into view. They peered with bated breath to see if she would make it all the way without capsizing, and she did!

   When Carole was seaworthy once again, she was eager to face the future, but now her burdens were heavier. Although they slowed her down, Carole had learned to trust the Master Shipbuilder and His guiding hand.

    One hot and sultry summer Carole was especially heavily burdened and the responsibility of getting all the precious cargo in her hold to the distant harbor was weighty indeed. To make matters worse, the storms that summer were frequent and exceedingly fierce. That sturdy ship seemed frail compared to the monstrous storms that battered her about. But Carole sailed on, hardly knowing in the blinding rain and sweeping gales if she was heading in the right direction but certain she must get her priceless possessions to the Other Shore where they would be in safe hands forever more.

   The Carole was tossed about so viciously that it felt like she would be shaken apart from bow to stern but what she did not know, and could not see, was that angels were soaring around the helpless appearing vessel and clasping the sides together as she bucked the waves.
  Sometimes the Carole couldn’t go on so dropped anchor right in the middle of nowhere in those vast, heaving seas until she could get her bearings once again.

   She couldn’t see the Light. Sometimes she couldn’t even see the stars up above, but the Master Carpenter saw her, and was caring for her.

   Sail, on, sweet Carole, someday you’ll break through the billows, and it will be easier again.

   We're praying for you.