WHO IS THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR "SHIP"?

Lessons from the Panama Canal:

As a ship enters the Panama Canal Zone, the Captain of the ship must relinquish total control of his ship to a Panamanian Captain. This Captain takes over the ship and guides it through the Panama Canal - a distance of 12 miles with 6 locks. This was a visual reminder that Christ is the Master/Captain of our lives to whom we must yield total control of our lives for a successful journey.

WHOSE AGENDA?

We stayed in a small hotel in La Chorrera. Every day a friend and I used the stairs to burn off the excess calories in the food we ate. On several days as I bounded down the stairs to race off to the church or to the park where we did "Fun in the Park" activities with the children, the desk clerk would greet me with a smile, a "Buenas Dias", and, pointing at the whole group, an "Excelentisima". Since we had had a filly named Excelentisima, I knew this meant "very excellent" and I quickly responded with a "Gracias" and a smile, and hurried on my way.

On the last day, as we were ready to leave the hotel at 6:30 a.m., she said "Hasta Luego" (meaning "see you later" as opposed to a final goodbye (indicating she hoped we came again)). Then again she repeated, "Excelentisima" and pointed with a big circle to the whole group. Again I said, "Thank you" and waved goodbye. As I hurried out the door, the Lord said to me, "What about her?" I stopped and went back to the side of the desk where I could talk directly to her (not through a dividing glass) and asked in my limited Spanish, "tu es Christiana?". She answered, "No, pero mucho gusto Christianos". (NO, but I like Christians very much or I'm pleased to meet Christians). I left her a tract "Steps to Peace with God" in Spanish, praying that the Lord would speak to her through His Word. I asked His forgiveness for hurrying past her every day and prayed He would use the written Word to woo her to Himself. As we drove off, I thought, " Isn't that so like me - rushing around on MY agenda and forgetting to be sensitive to HIS agenda."