The Life Raft
Don’t you love how COVID-19 has changed the way in which we communicate with our nearest and dearest? Our ‘new normal’ has us switching social gatherings to Facebook messenger, Zoom and House Party. I have found that I have spent more time reconnecting and talking with family and friends virtually and it has truly been a blessing in disguise.
MAN OVERBOARD
I recently had a Zoom catch-up with two of my girlfriends from work, Latafale and Seini. These very ladies were the ones I started my flying journey with at training school.
We recalled as though it was yesterday when we were nervous trainees. We remembered a moment that was quite possibly the most life-scarring of my flying career. It is also the one moment that will forever leave us laughing in hysterics.
Part of our preparation to become a Flight Attendant involved a Wet Drills test. This is where we all have to dress in overalls, jump into the water and do a swimming and life raft assessment. For most trainees, this is the most dreaded part of training.
Trainers warned us that the entire exercise can be tiring, especially if you have to try multiple times, while treading water.
On our assessment day, everything was going well. The last assessment to do was the life raft: use the ladder on the side (partly submerged under water) and with your upper body strength, hoist yourself into the raft. Simple, right?
Latafale volunteered to go first and she pulled herself into the life raft. Wow. She did that with ease. At this point, I’m like, “YES! I can do this – no sweat.”
As I attempt to pull myself up, I struggle and can’t get myself into the life raft. My heart starts to beat fast as I try again and again to lift myself over.
Panic.
Adrenaline is now on overdrive as I continue to fall back into the water with every attempt.
Seini then gives it a go and struggles at the same point I did. While the rest of the class make it in one-by-one, we are left treading water looking at each other like, “OH.EM.GEE. WE HAVE TO GET IN.”
I’m laughing as I type this because we were literally praying in the water. We were face-to-face, desperately praying like our life depended on it. Meanwhile, Latafale is hanging over the raft and is constantly giving us encouragement and all I can do is frantically look at her.
It was now our turn to give it another go. And by the grace of God, I truly believe He physically moved us in the water that day. I don’t know if the trainers felt sorry for us, but we were given a secret push by one of them, which helped give us that added strength to get in.
Relief!
Our classmates clap and cheer for us while I start to cry. I was so overwhelmed and had this rush of emotion take over me. I felt safe when we made it into the raft knowing we could now continue with the rest of training.
GOD TO THE RESCUE
It dawned on me after this Zoom conversation that a message of God could so beautifully and metaphorically be used in this situation.
Here are my simple take-aways:
1. Who are you surrounding yourself with when you are out in the open sea?
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 (NLT)
I am so thankful for Seini and being with her in the water that day. She was aware of the predicament we were in and prayed with me, calming both our nerves.
Having friends who pray with you in the midst of panic are the ones you want to invest your time with. Ones who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable with you in those moments and reassure you that you will make it.
And then there was Latafale who led the way and got into the raft first. She was the one who gave us a sense of hope and encouragement that we too could get in. This is another kind of friend you want. The ones who continuously model God’s miraculous works and lead the way. The ones who speak life into you while you are in situations out of your own control. The ones who reassure you that you will be able to make it to the other side.
2. Who should you rely on in times of panic?
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
I’m reminded time and time again that I can never be the only one to steer my ship. And every time I have tried to navigate my life journey, I am quickly reminded that I cannot do this on my own.
When I continued to try get into the raft on my own, I was exhausted and started to panic. Why? I simply relied on my own strength. I wasn’t open to asking for help and wasn’t trying another technique my trainer would suggest.
What I take from this is that in the end all you need to do is TRUST.
Trust that your plans have already been taken care of. God will place people in your life to give you that extra push, just like our trainers did to get us into the raft. You are never alone.
3. God IS your life raft
The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them.”
Psalm 91: 14 – 16 (NLT)
Do you remember how I said how relieved I was when I finally got into the life raft? I was finally able to rest after exhausting myself in the water.
The whole experience of getting into that raft is a true reflection of my own walk. Whenever I felt as though I was struggling to connect with God, He has provided a way; surrounding me with the right people that lead me back to Him.
He IS your life raft. He is the one where you will feel complete safety. He IS a safe haven where you will be able to rest. And how special that with the right people around, you will be able to share all His goodness with them.
He will rescue you from the rough seas and protect you.
Are you willing to put your trust in Him?
Now is your time to get in the life raft – because in times of rescue HE IS your lifeline.
Heavenly Father, I pray for whoever is needing right now.
I pray that you cover them with your LOVE & PEACE and that in this very moment, wherever they are, they feel your presence.
I pray for the right people to surround them and uplift them.
I pray for breakthrough.
In JESUS MIGHTY NAME,
Amen xxxxx