If you cruise, you lose!
I would argue that the goal for Christians is not a cruise ship life. If you constantly cruise, I believe you ultimately lose! If you examine the life of Jesus and the disciples, you won’t see many luxurious cruise ship moments. Times of cruising can be a blessing - let’s thank God if things are going smoothly. But instead of despising the dinghy days, let’s embrace the power of them in helping us grow closer to Jesus. Let’s yield to having our character shaped to be more like his, so we can help fellow seafarers on their voyages. These hard but holy lessons are not often learnt on a cruise! As we examine the dinghy days together, I hope you’ll find that if you look carefully enough, your dinghy is bursting with opportunity for deep renewal.
No one lives permanently on a cruise. Our trials and storms will look different, but they will be present. We will all face different challenges such as grief, depression, loss of jobs, health problems, financial difficulty, and relationship issues. These things are not often quickly sorted out, and we then swiftly jump back onto a cruise liner. The deep issues and trials of life take time in the dinghy to process, work through, and find healing in. But with God’s help, we can experience transformation and have a story of hope to help others weather their stormy seas well. I believe we can find fresh hope and vision for the future in our dismal-feeling dinghies.
Dinghy days provide us with a great opportunity to get down to the nitty gritty of our scripture for today, which instructs us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus. When our lives don’t look the way we hoped they would, when it all feels boring, unglamorous, and disappointing, when we feel forgotten and overlooked, we can choose to accept this divine directive to die to our will and our ways. We can decide to ‘pump it up’ rather than live defeated and deflated, and choose to trust our Captain even when we have no idea where he’s steering us to. When all is stripped back, we can connect with God in a deeper way, reminding ourselves what our faith and hope truly are all about. In our dinghy, we get to go back to basics and be reminded where our true treasure lies.
Reflection
Do you think the Christian life is, or should be like, living on a cruise ship? Do you believe you connect more with God in cruising or dinghy seasons? Why?
In my own spiritual journey, I've realized that it is during the 'dinghy days'—those difficult, unglamorous seasons—that my faith has truly matured and deepened. Often, we view hardships as setbacks or times to merely endure until life returns to smooth sailing. However, these times are rich with opportunity to connect with God on a more profound level. The scripture from Matthew 16:24 reminds us that following Jesus involves denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. This isn't about avoiding struggle but about embracing growth through it. In the dinghy, where life feels stripped back and uncertain, I have found clarity on what truly matters—trusting God as our Captain, regardless of the unknown paths ahead. Challenges such as grief, health struggles, or financial hardship aren't just obstacles; they shape our character and deepen our empathy for others navigating stormy seas. Rather than looking to escape or 'cruise' through life’s challenges, leaning into these moments has helped me develop resilience and a hopeful perspective. I encourage anyone going through their personal dinghy phase to view it as a divine invitation to renewal. These days are not just about survival but transformation. With prayer, reflection, and the support of a faith community, we can emerge stronger and more aligned with Jesus’ example, ready to assist others on their voyage. Ultimately, it's about surrender—accepting that our plans may not align with God's but trusting that He is guiding us towards greater purpose. In doing so, the dinghy becomes not a place of defeat but a vessel of hope and restoration.