The old gentleman had been home barely a week from his latest heart episode. And although he had been quietly trying to comply with the doctor's instructions, he just couldn't wait another day to get in on the spring crappie fishing. His wife protested that she could not go along and there was no one else to accompany him in his small fishing boat on such a large lake. But against her wishes he drove around the corner and down the hill to the fishing dock to scratch his fishing itch.

Faithfully, his wife of many years prayed as she watched for his distinctive little aluminum boat to come chugging around the point of land that would lead him into the open water of the Lake of the Ozarks.

Amazed, she noted someone else sitting in the front seat as he plowed through the chop forging his way to his secret crappie beds.

"Oh, thank goodness he found someone to fish with him today of all days!"  She thought as she dismissed her concerns of him aged and alone on the bosom of such a massive inland sea.

Hours later she idly looked up as he rounded the point heading back to the dock. Gratitude filled her heart as she noted the faithful presence of his friend seated in the bow of the little boat. 

"I'll have to ask him who it was when he gets home", she mused.

Shortly, with the customary rattle of the chain-driven garage door, his arrival home was announced.

After her usual question about his fishing luck she brightly asked, "So who was that with you today?"

"Nobody", he said.  "There wasn't a soul around so I just went by myself."

Well, you can imagine the energetic discussion that ensued as she pointed out that she knew his boat, and that no one else was on the water but he and his friend, and there was no way she could be mistaken...

It was only later that they put two and two together, remembering Jesus had promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. The unknown Stranger in the bow of the boat that day was One who was very familiar with small boats, high winds and crashing waves.

As you go through your latest storm remember you are not alone either, no more than the old gentleman was that day. 

Rest in the assurance of the Presence of the Lord.

Lovingly,

Pastor Richard Orrell