In the Midst of Fear
Several years ago, while backpacking alone through Europe, my friend Sharon, an American, had to board a boat in Northern Ireland that would take her to Scotland.
Hostile glances from the other passengers came her way as she stood in line to pay her fare.
Sharon realized that, because she was a stranger and traveling by herself, the people in the war-torn country saw her as a threat. For the first time on her 21-day journey, she began to feel afraid.
An urgent plea was sent heavenward. “Lord, please take care of me in this place full of strangers. Show me You are beside me, watching over me.’
It came time to pay her fare. “Where’re you headed, Miss?” the white-haired captain asked.
“Scotland,” she replied.
“That would be the third stop for you, Miss.” Sharon nodded and moved to the side.
Once at sea, the boat’s engine made a deep chug-chugging sound that filled the air around them and carried out over the waves. Even so, the captain’s deep voice could be heard clearly above the noise: “If you’re a-wantin’ Scotland, it’s the third stop. Ya’ don’t be a-wantin’ the first or second stop, but the third stop for Scotland.”
Every few minutes, he repeated the announcement, looking around at all the passengers and smiling in a friendly manner.
After two or three similar announcements, Sharon caught on. As the only American on board, she was obviously the only one who needed a reminder. She tried to maintain an outward look of calm, even though her nerves felt frayed. Would the other passengers grow angry with the captain’ attention?
When she took a look around, the faces of the crowd surprised her. Instead of frowns, people now smiled at her, albeit indulgently. A few people chuckled aloud as they swiveled their heads between her and the captain.
Sharon relaxed, more relieved than she wanted to admit, that the earlier tension was gone, dissolved under the captain’s care.
Once the boat arrived in Scotland, Sharon gathered her belongings and stood in line to disembark. When it came time to do so, she thanked the elderly captain for his help. His ruddy face revealed gentle understanding as he wished her a safe trip.
Sharon also thanked God or His help; she would never again doubt His care for her in a tension-filled situation.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”- 1 John 4:16
Kayleen Reusser
www.KayleenR.com
Hostile glances from the other passengers came her way as she stood in line to pay her fare.
Sharon realized that, because she was a stranger and traveling by herself, the people in the war-torn country saw her as a threat. For the first time on her 21-day journey, she began to feel afraid.
An urgent plea was sent heavenward. “Lord, please take care of me in this place full of strangers. Show me You are beside me, watching over me.’
It came time to pay her fare. “Where’re you headed, Miss?” the white-haired captain asked.
“Scotland,” she replied.
“That would be the third stop for you, Miss.” Sharon nodded and moved to the side.
Once at sea, the boat’s engine made a deep chug-chugging sound that filled the air around them and carried out over the waves. Even so, the captain’s deep voice could be heard clearly above the noise: “If you’re a-wantin’ Scotland, it’s the third stop. Ya’ don’t be a-wantin’ the first or second stop, but the third stop for Scotland.”
Every few minutes, he repeated the announcement, looking around at all the passengers and smiling in a friendly manner.
After two or three similar announcements, Sharon caught on. As the only American on board, she was obviously the only one who needed a reminder. She tried to maintain an outward look of calm, even though her nerves felt frayed. Would the other passengers grow angry with the captain’ attention?
When she took a look around, the faces of the crowd surprised her. Instead of frowns, people now smiled at her, albeit indulgently. A few people chuckled aloud as they swiveled their heads between her and the captain.
Sharon relaxed, more relieved than she wanted to admit, that the earlier tension was gone, dissolved under the captain’s care.
Once the boat arrived in Scotland, Sharon gathered her belongings and stood in line to disembark. When it came time to do so, she thanked the elderly captain for his help. His ruddy face revealed gentle understanding as he wished her a safe trip.
Sharon also thanked God or His help; she would never again doubt His care for her in a tension-filled situation.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”- 1 John 4:16
Kayleen Reusser
www.KayleenR.com
posted by Kayleen | 12:21 PM
1 Comments:
This is such a powerful story. Hope it was published somewhere!
Thanks for sharing it.
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