Trusting the Captain

My family recently spent a week in Hawaii.  We were on the island of Maui over the week of Thanksgiving.  It was lovely. 

The family under Lahaina's Giant Banyan Tree

One of the activities we booked months before we arrived was a cruise to the Molokini Crater for snorkeling.  Molokini is a small, crescent shaped island (a submerged crater) a few miles south of Maui.  It surrounds a reef that is ideal for seeing sea turtles, tropical fish, and coral. 

On the morning of our cruise, we arrived at the harbor to find intense winds.  The palm trees were leaning and the ocean was covered with whitecaps.   We boarded the Pride of Maui, got our breakfast, and went up to the top deck to find our seats.  We ate as the boat left the harbor, and we continued to be whipped by the wind. 

Breakfast

The captain came over the loudspeaker as he steered us out into the Pacific.  After going over safety information and where to find the bathrooms, he informed us that there was a good chance we would NOT actually be cruising to Molokini.  He explained that the winds were so severe that it would not only be unsafe to be anchored at Molokini, but it would not provide the enjoyable snorkeling experience that we were seeking.  He said that he would continue to be in contact with other boats closer to the crater and check weather reports as we headed in that direction, but that we may have to change course.

Notice the whitecaps

It only took about 10 minutes before he came back on the microphone to say that we wouldn’t be headed for Molokini as we had all planned and desired, but we would go to another location to snorkel called Coral Gardens, closer to Maui’s coast.  A location that was safer, protected by the wind, and would still provide us with tremendous snorkeling.  

We were disappointed.  We had made plans and our hearts had been set on them.  We had anticipated a certain experience, and it wasn’t turning out the way we had expected.  But, we also knew that the Captain knew more than we did.  He had more nautical experience than we did, and more information about the conditions than we were privy to. He knew that going to Molokini would not only be dangerous for us, but our snorkeling experience would be spoiled by the choppy waves and high winds.  Our trip wasn’t going to be what we planned, but we trusted that the Captain knew better than we did, and we appreciated that he had our best in mind. 

As it turns out, we had a wonderful day.  Because our new destination was closer to the harbor, we spent less time traveling, and got more time to snorkel.  Our new spot was protected by the island, so we were able to eat our lunch and soak up the sun on the deck of the boat without being beaten by the wind.  And, Coral Gardens provided us beautiful coral reefs to float above and schools of fish to follow.  As it turns out, the Captain knew better than we did. 

Coral Gardens

I couldn’t help but compare this to our larger life plans. 

 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

 but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” 

Proverbs 19:21

We make plans for our lives.  We have expectations for how those plans will unfold.  But sometimes, our plans don’t succeed.  Our life doesn’t turn out as we planned. 

This is when have to trust our “Captain”.  God knows more than we do.  Just like the captain of the Pride of Maui knew that our original course wasn’t what was best for us, we can believe that God has better plans for us, and have faith in his revisions to our course.  We can entrust our lives to the creator of the wind and sea. 

The wind blew on the way back, too!