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After the incident with the two bosun birds (see previous post) the Sheaf Royal seemed to encounter more inclement weather than had been expected. Perhaps the birds were albatrosses and Neptune was seeking revenge? The weather continued to be challenging as we approached the Tsugaru Strait that separates the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. There was another problem in that both of our radars had packed up and Stan, our diminutive radio officer, was unable to repair them.
Because of the bad weather and the issue with the radars the mate decided that extra eyes were needed on the bridge and assigned his two cadets to watchkeeping duties. I got the 12-4 watch with the second mate, while George had the dubious privilege of joining the mate on the 4-8. Any extra cover on the 8-12 was provided by the captain.
The Sheaf Royal entered the Tsugaru Strait at 20:00 on Friday 22 February 1974. Scattered heavy snow showers conspired against us, reducing visibility and obscuring lights on the shore. We verified our position by taking bearings of these lights when we could see them. Lack of radar not only removed the possibility of taking radar bearings and distances to chart our position, but also meant that we were unable to monitor other vessels in the vicinity when visibility was reduced. This was a night when the captain earned his wages. By 02:00 on 23 February the Sheaf Royal was clear of the Tsugaru Strait and the old man left the bridge to get some rest leaving the second mate, me, and the duty quartermaster to finally relax a little.
Not having radar was also an issue for a bunch of fishermen on the Sea of Galilee some 2,000 years ago. The Bible records how they resorted to panic in two separate storms. Like us they couldn’t see the shore, but even had this been possible they had no charts or means of establishing their position. On the first occasion Jesus was in the boat but not providing an extra set of eyes because He was fast asleep. When woken by the crew (His disciples) He simply commanded the weather to behave itself and it did.
The next time the disciples were in a storm on Galilee Jesus wasn’t in the boat, but at just the right time He came walking towards the boat on the water, unaffected by the storm. Unsurprisingly, the disciples failed to recognise Jesus until He spoke. Not only were they blind to the shore, but they were also blind to their Saviour. And save them He did, but only after one disciple had a go at walking on the water.
I understand that by and large the world is as blind to Jesus now as it was when He walked on this planet. Often it takes a storm for blind eyes to see. Some will never see. I don’t understand that, particularly when God/Jesus is so visible in every created being, in every piece of life on Earth, and when the universe is on display in the night sky. If I ever doubted the existence of God when at sea I only had to gaze at the stars on a dark clear night. If I looked long enough I used to find myself completely overwhelmed by His presence. Just like Job in the Old Testament.
He alone has spread out the heavens, and marches on the waves of the sea.
He made all the stars – the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky.
He does great things too marvellous to understand. He performs countless miracles. (Job 9;8-10 NLT)
Gary Fultz said:
“Often it takes a storm for blind eyes to see”
Oh so true.
I believe this is often what we inadvertently pray for in people’s lives when we ask God to reach them.
Good thoughts from one of your many stories David
David said:
Thanks Gary. Nearly to the end of my first trip to sea now! Are you under this heat dome we are hearing about in the news?
Gary Fultz said:
Yes, we do not normally live 10 degrees warmer than 800 miles south of us.
We have summers in the 70s and low 80s. Also in quite a drought whille 600 miles south is flooding from continuous rains every night.
Gary Fultz said:
Yes, we do not normally live 10 degrees warmer than 800 miles south of us.
We have summers in the 70s and low 80s. Also in quite a drought whille 600 miles south is flooding from continuous rains every night.
David said:
Your normal summers sound like our normal summers, although this year it is 60s and 70s. Hope the heat dome soon lifts. Read a story in the news this morning about a village in BC that has been destroyed by fire after experiencing temperatures above 120.
Rachel Quigley said:
Thanks David for this story. I recently read the book, Death on the Ice” it’s the true story of sealers off the shores of Canada. It is very good if you have a chance to read it.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
David said:
Thank you Rachel. I have felt a prompting to ‘tell my story’ for a while now. I have detailed journals from my first two trips to sea (required as part of my training) so I have been typing these up and again where prompted lifting sections for the blog. Good to see that you are posting again.