Tower and Town, November 1992

Editorial: Full Sail For Advent

The waves were thirty feet high, big as houses, and breaking! The yacht, a 20 ft Sloop, reefed down to just eleven feet of mainsail. The storm gusted sometimes to hurricane force. The yacht was knocked flat twice. A pig of ballast tore up the cabin sole and landed on one of the bunks. Next, all the matches got soaked. That meant no more hot drinks or food. The nights were long and cold and wet, with always the danger of being run down by ships unable to see us. Cn the third morning a Coaster hailed to say the yacht was heading for St Allan's Race. Other hazards to avoid were Portland Race and the Shambles Bank.

At last the rain stopped, the wind became manageable and the sun came out. It was possible to sail again. After a struggle, I reached the safety of Boole Harbour at 2 a.m. after 56 hours alone on watch.

Sailing is a good training for life. You can't always go where you want. Sometimes conditions are so bad you just have to ride it out. After the night, the longed-for day dawns, the sun comes out again, and one can get going once more.

Christian people see life like this. God allows hazards to come our way. But, if we hold on, there is always another day with a new start.

That is what ADVENT is about.

Michael CC House