Part 4 His Guiding Light
By Jerry Delany
THE SKY AND OCEAN ARE ALL ONE COLOR,----BLACK AS HOODED DEATH. THE LIGHTENING IS BURNING OUR SKIN AND THE RAIN AND WIND ARE TEARING AT OUR BODIES. THE BLOOD IN OUR VEINS FEELS LIKE ICE WATER,--WE ARE SHAKING AND SHIVERING FROM FEAR AND COLDNESS. I LOOK ANY SECOND FOR THE BOAT TO BE STRUCK AND BLOWN APART BY LIGHTENING.
We are working hard to stay ahead of conditions that are changing every second and at the same time attempting to reason where we are in this vast ocean. Dan steps forward,--lays his hand on my shoulder and with mature reasoning says; " DAD,I'M GETTING ALL THE LIFE JACKETS AND TYING THEM TOGETHER. WE WILL NEED THE FLASH LIGHT, FLARE GUN, ROPE, KNIVES AND THE CAN DRINKS. I WILL GATHER UP ANYTHING THAT WILL FLOAT." "NO ONE KNOWS WHERE WE ARE IN THIS OCEAN,--THE ELECTRONICS DON'T WORK--WATER WIPED THEM OUT.!!""
Dan comes back up to me again and asks, "DAD !!--HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN IN THIS STORM??!" I reply after looking at my watch, "A LITTLE OVER THREE HOURS AND I'M NOT SURE WE'RE MAKING ANY HEAD WAY." While looking into my eyes and hanging on,he replies with a stronger voice, "DAD,--IF YOU SEE ANY LAND AT ALL---DRIVE THIS BOAT HIGH AND DRY UP ON IT,---NO MATTER WHICH BEACH IT IS OR HOW FAR WE'RE FROM THE INLET--JUST PUT US ON THE BEACH."!! I lightly smile and remark,--"DON'T WORRY,--WE WILL MAKE IT IN,---I KNOW I CAN DO IT.!!"
Make it we must. Even if I see land we could be blown fifteen miles north of the Inlet. I had been working and praying hard,---"GOD, I COULD SURE USE A WHOLE LOT OF HELP ALONG ABOUT NOW, EXTEND YOUR HAND AND LET ME GRAB HOLD." We are riding up the face of each wave and down the back side. At times the boat is diving through the waves and the bow and cabin are completely under blue-black water. We keep going this way for what seems forever. Dan is back in with me and has braced himself. I am heading back up the face of a gigantic wave and as I reach the top I yell out;--"WHAT WAS THAT?!!" Dan says; " WHAT WAS WHAT?,--i DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING?!" I start back up the face of another wave and when I get on top I see it again. "THERE-THERE--RIGHT THERE,---THAT BRIGHT SHINING LIGHT,--DID YOU SEE IT??!!" We start down the back side of the wave and I tell Dan to look hard as I am pointing to the southwest. We go up the face of a wave again and on the top we are looking hard. We both see it and Dan yells out;"THERE-RIGHT THERE,--THAT'S IT, THAT'S THE GREAT CROSS AT THE OLD MISSION,-HEAD FOR IT DAD!"
picture of shining cross
I reply; "I CAN'T--I'VE GOT TO FIND THE SEA BUOY FIRST AND LINE UP FROM THERE TO GET THROUGH THE INLET-- WE COULD END UP ON THE NORTH JETTIES." The CROSS is shining like a beacon and I can't take my eyes off of it. The words in my mind say: "GOD,--THANK YOU FOR EXTENDING YOUR HAND AND BRINGING US HOME, THANK YOU FOR LOOKING OVER US AND SHINING YOUR LIGHT UPON US."
Dan asks; "WHERE DO YOU THINK THE SEA BUOY IS DAD?" I reply with excitement; "IT SHOULD BE DIRECTLY OVER THE BOW AND A LITTLE IN SHORE,--LISTEN FOR THE HORN TO BLOW AS IT RIDES IN THE SEAS,--KEEP A SHARP EYE OUT." Now we are moving southwest and the boat is being broached from the side. I have to continually turn into the waves then back out again,--at times the boat feel like it is about to turn upside down as we climb to the top of a wave. Dan has all the emergency gear ready at his feet in case the boat sinks or we get thrown out.
He yells out; "THERE IT IS,--THERE'S THE SEA BUOY--DEAD AHEAD, ABOUT 400 YARDS AND INSHORE. I yell out; "HANG ON,--HERE COMES A BIG WAVE AND IT'S GOING TO BROACH US FROM THE SIDE,--HOLD TIGHT,--I'VE GOT TO TURN AND GO WITH IT BEFORE IT SWAMPS US!!"
Jerry Delany
Stories copyright 2001