The Rope

Before we bought our lake house at Smith Lake, we kept a boat at Ryan Creek Marina. We would often go up for the day and cruise all over the lake before heading back to Birmingham to pig out at Niki’s West. Fun memories for sure!

One Sunday afternoon we were out on the lake having a blast and enjoying a beautiful late Summer day. It was about time to start heading back to the marina but then two things occurred to me - we were very low on gas and there was a thunderstorm that had popped up right behind us - seemingly out of nowhere.

There was another marina that was a lot closer to us than Ryan Creek Marina but I wasn’t sure if it was still open. It was in the opposite direction and, if it wasn’t open, we would be stuck there with no gas and possibly cutoff by the storm. Ryan Creek Marina was much further and in the opposite direction from the storm but I didn’t know if I had enough gas to make it back there. Normally it wouldn’t be that bad to run out of gas on the way since there are plenty of people around to help. However, I had 3 young children in the boat, Julie was pregnant and we had a big storm chasing us. Running out of gas would not be good.

I had to make a quick decision and decided to try to make it back to our marina. Pridefully, I didn’t alert anyone to our problem. We just took off and I did everything I could to preserve gas. I maintained a consistent speed and tried to take the tightest lines down the river. I even turned the music off at one point thinking that just maybe that would help - ha.

I prayed and asked God for help on the way but I was mostly consumed with frustration. How could I let this happen? I wasn’t being a good father by endangering my family like this. I should have been paying closer attention to everything around me. Of course I was still holding all of this in so that no one would be scared or realize the situation that I had put them in.

When we came around the corner for the last turn, I saw the beautiful marina less than a mile from us. All of the sudden, my mood totally changed. I swelled with pride. What a great decision I had made! I made the right choice and everything was going to be fine. What a good father and husband I am!

The fuel gauge was on empty - dead empty. I figured that we were running on fumes at that point and we were. When I was about 100 yards from the dock, the engine sputtered and eventually cut off. However, our momentum was still carrying us forward so I went up to the front of the boat and looked down into the water to watch our progress. With my head down watching the nose of the boat slowly glide through the water, the boat finally came to a complete stop. I then looked up and saw a smiling young teenage standing on the edge of the dock holding a rope. We had stopped a mere 10 yards short but the young man threw me the rope and pulled us in just ahead of the oncoming storm.

I learned several things that day other than just humility but one lesson that stands above them all. We can make every effort to do the right things in life. We can try to live in obedience and seek God’s wisdom in all things; however, we will always fall short. We can’t do it on our own. Thankfully, we don’t have to. Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus is there waiting for us on the dock ready to throw us the rope?

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6