parking a boat

Parking a boat is very different than parking a car.  There are several problems with parking a boat: (1) Not only is the boat moving, but the water is moving (up, down and sideways), (2) the boat slips through the water rather than grabbing the road with wheels, (3) the things that mark the boundaries of your parking space are not lines on pavement...they are poles or beams made of wood, steel or concrete.  When you park a car the biggest challenge is often finding a convenient parking space.   Parking a boat is often the most difficult thing about making a trip and takes time, patience and considerable skill.  Everything about moving about on the water is humbling because you have much less control than with a land-based vehicle.  Large ships actually rely on harbor pilots to come aboard and guide them into the parking spaces alongside piers.  They not only have the skill, they also have the local knowledge of currents, shoals and harbor traffic conditions.   Each day we look for a parking space where we can put into harbor and find purpose.  We may think it is as easy as pulling into a blacktop lot at a large store, but it is much more like guiding a boat into a dockside slip.  We need help to find the right location and more help to judge currents, wind and distances.  We need a fine control on the throttle and we need to know when to apply and take off power.  We need to know how much rudder to use and when to take off the steering angle.  We help because it is a very difficult to land and tie up the boat alone.  We need to secure the boat with lines while preventing the pilings from impacting the sides of the craft.  But we are grateful for all the help when we finally stand atop the dock and walk on land that doesn't shift.  

Luke 8:²² Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out.