Dear friends,

The Boat Trip

A man was sailing in his yacht. He had been out on the ocean for a number of days, when unexpectedly his boat began to sink. He only managed to survive by clinging to a floating object. He was blown and buffeted by strong winds, and eventually he landed on a deserted island where no people or animals lived, just a few insects.

He managed to build a small box made of straw. He stayed there for several days eating fruits and fishing. He began to get used to his new life of suffering and loneliness. Eventually he lost all hope of ever being rescued and seeing his family again.

Every night he lit a fire in front of his house to warm himself. One evening as usual he lit the fire. He stayed there for a long time until he dozed off. Late in the night he was awakened by an overwhelming heat. His straw hut had caught fire. In his anger he cried out accusing and blaming God, shouting, “Oh God what have I done to you to hurt me so, you  separated me from my family to bring me to this deserted island and now you let my hut burn. Why are you so hard on me it is better to die because I am tired of living in this suffering.”

At dawn, he saw a small boat coming towards him. When the boat landed, he ran straight for the Captain and said to him in astonishment, “Captain how did you get here? No boat can get here unless he gets lost.”

“The captain replied in the night we saw fire and we thought it was a burning boat. We thought that you used the fire in order for us to find you.”

The man cried, fell on his knees and asked God for forgiveness. Got into the boat and went home and was reunited with his family. 

Have you, like the man in the story, ever cursed God when life hasn’t gone the way you hoped it would, or thought it should?

The Bible says, Many are the plans of a person’s heart but it is the Lord’s purposes that prevail. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 to 6.

            Rev David Saunders.

For local enquiries relating to Week St. Mary Church matters please contact either of the Churchwardens:
Lesley Booker Tel: 01288 341221 or Linda Cobbledick Tel: 01288 341468

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For enquiries relating to Week St. Mary Methodist Church please contact:
Rev Steve Swann • Telephone: 01840 779339