"But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland." (Hebrew 11:16 NLT)
We’ve been interim testing all week at the junior high. Benchmarks in the morning often mean movies in the afternoon. The kiddos are mentally spent and teachers are only seeing a small percentage of their regular students, so it makes sense to give everyone a breather. In and amidst our current coverage issues, I probably caught 40% of True Spirit; a Netflix production based on the solo-sailing expedition of Jessica Watson. This sixteen year old battling dyslexia set out to circumnavigate the globe and break the world record for solo sailing.
I really only caught three scenes: the week where she sat alone in the ocean because there was no wind, the super-cell storm that collected at the southern tip of Australia, and the homecoming with her friends and family. Curiously: the three scenes I saw make up a powerful metaphor for the Christian life. Solitude, storms, and home-going are each crucial coordinates in our faith voyage. How we respond in those seas makes a significant impact in our story.
During her seven months at sea, young Jessica experiences the extremes of oceanic travel. The week without wind quite literally limped her sails and her spirit. Solitude forced her to look deep within and deal with what she discovered. God allows such seasons for the believer, as well. When there is no wind, there’s no movement, no distraction, no momentum, no one to tug us out of our needed self-reflection. Windless weeks or seasons are opportunities to let the Spirit search deep within, revealing bulwarks and roots alike. We alone choose how to respond to such silence.
Jessica also faced storms. I didn’t see the first few gales, but when the last super storm gathered, her father reminded her of the lessons learned in previous squalls. Jessica had the option of bailing before the storm hit (and thus losing her victor’s crown) or relying on the knowledge she had gained from surviving previous systems. As believers, we face storms, too. Some are small squalls that pass quickly and others are typhoons that last for days or months. Like Jessica, we have to decide what to do with our weather systems. Will we bail on our dream of finishing strong or will we learn lessons from every storm and trust our Father’s Word amidst the waves?
The last scene is the one that got me. I’m sorry for spoilers and feel free to stop reading.
When Jessica finally sails in to port, there are thousands gathered to welcome her home. Fellow sailors are afloat in the bay, waving her in with visible joy. Best of all, her family; Mom, Dad, brothers and sister are all waiting on the dock with open arms and wide smiles. (I’m crying in a room of seventh graders at this point!) Jessica ties off her battered craft and sets her converse-clad feet on land for the first time in 210 days; falling into the arms of her family. She’s clearly worse for wear from sun exposure and exhaustion, but she has made it safely home and into her father’s loving embrace. The crowd erupts with cheers as they receive their sailor.
I heard heavenly tones. After our long and arduous journey; the one where we’ve been transformed through solitude and storms, we arrive at our home port. We are weathered and weary, we’ve just barely made it across the waters, yet a crowd of witnesses has gathered. Our family in Christ helps us off our small craft and we fall into the arms of the Father as the multitude makes a joyful noise. Can you picture it?
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. The sea was also gone." (Revelations 21:1 NLT)
When we set foot on that last dock, the wilderness of solitude and storms will finally be behind us forever. We will be welcomed home as saints and invited to live forever with our Father, God and King.
Beloved, don’t give up now, in the solitude or the storm. Don’t abandon your dream of wholeness and belonging. Press on. Press through. Keep sailing. Cooperate with the leading of the Holy Spirit and take the Father at His Word. He is steadily moving us Homeward. Stay the course no matter how quiet or wild it gets. The destination is worth our desperation. We will obtain our victor’s crown.
"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12 NLT)
Lord, thank You for films that demonstrate powerful truths. We are making our way toward eternity with You. May we be encouraged today, strengthened by the imagery of sailors coming home. Help our hearts appreciate the value of what we are doing. Keep us engaged despite solitude and storms: we are desperate for You. Give us a glimpse of the home dock, help us hold that promise in our hearts as we continue to sail through lonely and stormy waters. Amen.
Here are the final few minutes of the film if you need a visual. Happy sailing, my friends!