Eddie Lowe
Just A Thought
Have you ever heard someone say, “My ship never came in”? Centuries ago, wealthy merchants would invest in ships to bring spices, textiles, or other goods from far away. Months could pass as the merchants checked the docks, not knowing if their ship had sunk or been taken by pirates. When all hope was gone, they said, “My ship never came in.”
Let’s revisit this saying and take a modern day look at it. Today “my ship never came in” might mean our lives weren’t fruitful or we weren’t successful in business or whatever we waited and hoped for never happened. Our vessel’s bill of lading would read differently from those of the merchants of old. So, what might we expect our ship to bring?
Do we expect financial and business success?
Not everyone has a rich uncle or inherits a fortune from a long lost relative. Ed McMahon never showed up at my house with a huge cardboard check from Publishers Clearing House, and he probably didn’t show up at yours either. Don’t live your life on the dock waiting for your ship instead of using the gifts and abilities God has given you to reach your goals. And be thankful for the blessings that God has already given you.
Do we expect memories?
In our minds, we all have those glory days we long to go back to, but were they really that great? Time has a way of smoothing over things, and we forget all the details. Instead of wasting time waiting on the memory ship, live in the moment and make new memories while doing so. Memories can be made by doing small things. A simple drive to the lake or a day trip to the mountains may require no big investment other than a tank of gas. Or pick something you’ve never done before. For example, I was intrigued to learn from a magazine article that West Virginia has Bridge Day each October. The New River Gorge Bridge is closed to traffic so that people can parachute 876 feet off its side! The bridge is just a two hour and thirty-minute drive from Surry County. Go and make a memory! Relax, you can watch, not jump!
Do we expect merchandise?
Maybe our life’s ship would bring something that would revolutionize our daily walk. We all want results and it’d be easier if we could just order something that would make that happen. From a personal standpoint, joining a gym, getting a belly full of supplements, and then expecting great results without the real workouts has only given me a tummy ache. We have to rely on God’s help and work for the things we want.
Deuteronomy 28:2 KJV says, “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” Let us be thankful today as well as every day for what God has already blessed us with!
