Many years ago while my husband was in the Army we had the unique opportunity to live on an atoll in the Pacific. This was a very small atoll, ½ mile wide and 3 ½ miles long. This atoll, Kwajalein, was involved in WWII. We loved our assignment there. The atoll is, of course, surrounded by ocean and differs in its formation from that of an island. This huge area of ocean is cover by many small atolls and vast amounts of ocean are part of the Marshall Islands in an area known as Micronesia.
Our neighbors, the Marshallese, lived on the next island which we could see from our backyard. I became very fascinated by the history of the people who lived in this part of the world. The part of their culture that fascinated me the most was their ability to travel from atoll to atoll across vast amounts of Open Ocean without the aid of a compass. In ancient days this was accomplished with the help of a stick chart and an outrigger. Of course there were no maps or compass so they studied wave patterns and passed this knowledge down from father to son. The wave patterns were then captured by a type of map that would guide them. This was called a “stick chart”. There were shells attached to the patterns of the sticks and the shells would represent the atolls. I am sure that it took a long time to become knowledgeable enough to understand the language of the map or “stick chart”. By being able to read the “stick chart” they were able to reach their final destination safely.
In many ways the Christians life mirrors the knowledge of the “stick chart”. We as believers need help in navigating life’s perilous seas also. We need to seek the help of His Word that has been given to us as our “stick chart”. As we reflect on His Word we can be encouraged to know that He is faithful in all of our life circumstances to provide us with guidance, encouragement and His Love.
So what is your “stick chart” in life? Is it truly the Bible, God’s Word, or do you rely sole on the advice from parents…friends…..what the latest polls say….or internet to name a few? There is only one way to be sure that you are on the right path. That can only be found in the guidance that is found in His Book. This will never fail you. Psalm 119:133…”Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me”.
Seek direction and guidance in the Bible and you will always be headed in the right direction until you reach your final destination.
Our neighbors, the Marshallese, lived on the next island which we could see from our backyard. I became very fascinated by the history of the people who lived in this part of the world. The part of their culture that fascinated me the most was their ability to travel from atoll to atoll across vast amounts of Open Ocean without the aid of a compass. In ancient days this was accomplished with the help of a stick chart and an outrigger. Of course there were no maps or compass so they studied wave patterns and passed this knowledge down from father to son. The wave patterns were then captured by a type of map that would guide them. This was called a “stick chart”. There were shells attached to the patterns of the sticks and the shells would represent the atolls. I am sure that it took a long time to become knowledgeable enough to understand the language of the map or “stick chart”. By being able to read the “stick chart” they were able to reach their final destination safely.
In many ways the Christians life mirrors the knowledge of the “stick chart”. We as believers need help in navigating life’s perilous seas also. We need to seek the help of His Word that has been given to us as our “stick chart”. As we reflect on His Word we can be encouraged to know that He is faithful in all of our life circumstances to provide us with guidance, encouragement and His Love.
So what is your “stick chart” in life? Is it truly the Bible, God’s Word, or do you rely sole on the advice from parents…friends…..what the latest polls say….or internet to name a few? There is only one way to be sure that you are on the right path. That can only be found in the guidance that is found in His Book. This will never fail you. Psalm 119:133…”Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me”.
Seek direction and guidance in the Bible and you will always be headed in the right direction until you reach your final destination.
No comments:
Post a Comment