The Set of the Sails

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
'Tis the set of the sails,
And Not the gales,
That tell us the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate;
As we voyage along through life,
'Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “The Winds of Fate”

In Homer's Odyssey, Ulysses has himself tied to the mast in order that he may hear the sirens' song, yet not follow all other sailors who, having done so, become shipwreck. This shows that it may be advantageous not to be free, and so is a focus for debates over paternalism, and the relation between higher and lower inclinations, or reason and desire.

When God forgives, he forgets, but does not allow us to forget. He wants us to remember the pit or the hole from which we were digged (Isaiah 51:1). God, through the redemption of Christ, has forgiven us for our sins. But expects His new creation, to set our sails in a new direction.

Once, my driver and I went to a county prison, I wanted to deliver some Christian material for the prisoners. As always in the old south, the prison was located in a swamp, dilapidated buildings enclosed and separated by a wire fence. It was Sunday afternoon, visiting day. All around the fence, mothers, fathers, wives, children were on one side of the fence, visiting with the inmates on the other. Most of the prisoners were, then as now, minorities. In today's prisons 75% of prisoners are minorities.

There they were, grown men, sticking fingers through wire to touch their child, wife, or parent. This was the highlight of their life, a visit from a loved one. It put new emphasis on the words: “if you cant do the time, don't do the crime.” Which of the people involved: prisoner, family member, guard, whoever, could ever get over such a visual tragedy. Just think of these parents, who knew this grown man as a small baby, who they loved very much and for whom they had such great expectations. How many of these children will ever forget this experience, visiting a father behind a wire prison fence.

We can exercise much judgment about inequities in the judicial system, and there are so many: crooked lawyers, crooked judges, crooked witnesses, and law enforcement officers. We just have to depend on the justice of God. One day, and soon, He will judge all: prisoners, victims, law enforcement, politicians, with equity.

“Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.” (Psalm 98:9) This is a verse which should scare every one of us...knowing that the very One who threw the stars into space will judge us with equity. That we will be before Him all alone...without the efforts of a crooked lawyer.

Often, like Ulysses we would have been better off to have been strapped to the mast, completely constrained, unable to follow evil seductions. By the time a child is 6 years old, authority of parents, sovereignty of God should be established in the wiring of every child.

After my mother's death, my father still lived in the old family farm house where both he and myself were raised. You have all seen such, a big white house in a big oak grove. I would call ahead and tell him that I was coming the 150 miles to take him out to lunch. My driver would say each time that before we arrived, regardless of the weather, he will be sitting on the front porch watching for you. And he always was.

Likewise, my mother, when alive, was always standing behind a glass door watching for us coming down the highway. When I was young and still at home, she and the too large collie dogs, could time us to the very minute, because both knew our curfew. When I hear young people, drunk, infatuated with sin, going up and down streets at night, I know the types of homes from which they come. Setting the sail early, determining the course of travel early, will prevent many later sorrows.

We are human beings, made in the image of god, superior in every way to other life.

The honey bee, which according to the known laws of aerodynamics, is not supposed to be able to fly, will travel 3,000 miles in it's lifetime to produce 1 spoonful of honey. A microscopic bacteria is capable of killing any large animal or plant. A small incest is capable of shutting down electric grids covering many states. A small particle of sand is capable of killing a powerful engine. Small birds have brought down large jet planes.

In the Valley of Elah, where David slew the giant Goliath with a slingshot and one stone, as the entire Jewish army cringed in fear. We know that this was not the first time David had used a slingshot. It was 1000 BC, then, just as today, a sovereign God was in charge. The future king of Israel, son of Jesse, had set his sail early in life.

I was in a remote area in India, visiting an archeological site. Although monkeys are worshiped in many temples in India, a young boy was paid to chase monkeys away from this archeological site. He used a slingshot and rocks, and was deadly with his aim. Like a great athlete, who know exactly how to throw or hit a ball, a great surgeon who knows exactly where to cut, a great pianist who knows exactly which key to touch, it is a matter of setting your sail, taking life seriously very early.

I had rather to have died than to have embarrassed my parents by having them visit me in prison, nor do I want to disappoint them by them waiting for me on the other side should I not show up. As Ella Wheeler Wilcox has so beautifully said, life is full of storms, many winds. Use the wind behind your sail...the discipline producing character, character determining destination.