Stranded!

Almost dinnertime...

I had just put a chicken pie 

into the oven to bake... 

When Samuel came bursting

through the back door... 

"There's a seal stranded on

the ice down in the cove!"

We grabbed our coats and boots

(and, of course, the camera!)

and headed down to the shore.

Sure enough,

There, lying on the ice,
was a large seal.

At first,
we were concerned that he
might be hurt...
And we considered calling the warden.

But when he saw us...
He jumped up
and started moving
and appeared to be just fine...

The problem was, you see,
That this big guy was stranded.
He must have come in on the tide...
But, now the tide had gone out
and there was very little water in
the cove under the ice...
So he was stuck.

At first, he tried to go into
the little bit of water that was there...

But, he soon discovered
that there wasn't enough water
to swim down under the ice...
and so he had to return to the top.

He was so beautiful...
And so helpless...
And the ocean seemed very far away...
And he didn't know how to get there.

My son had an idea...
That if we could come up behind him
within a distance, of course,
so as not to scare him...
We might be able to head him
in the right direction.

Well, Joshua's idea worked!
Slowly, he began inching his way,
toward the open water...

And, before long,
we knew there would be no need
for a call to the warden.

 As I watched him inch his way
slowly toward home...
I thought of the disciples
and other followers of Jesus...

How they had felt "stranded"
when Christ was put to death
on that seemingly dark day...

You see, they were counting on a king,
A king who would come to defeat
the Romans and restore the kingdom of Israel.

But this was not the intention
of our Lord at this time...

And the disciples felt somewhat abandoned...

How often do we feel stranded?
Not knowing which way to turn?
Not sure of our direction?
Not turning to the One who can
guide us to the Living Water?

Thankfully,
our friend had stayed the course
and found his way back home.

May we all be as fortunate...

"When they therefore were come together, 

they asked of him, saying, Lord,

wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

 And he said unto them, 

It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,

which the Father hath put in his own power.

 But ye shall receive power, 

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: 

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, 

and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, 

and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Acts 1:6-8