Anecdote Of The Week: The Do We Recognize Our Blessings Edition

"It was a beautiful day along Lake Michigan. A wonderful day for sailing. Numerous boats were out on the lake. People were taking in the sun. A sailor went out in his boat. He was experienced, his boat was in excellent condition, and he wanted to avoid the congestion from boats closer to shore. Unfortunately, a sudden storm appeared. He remained confident in his skills and knew he would be okay. The storm worsened, the sun disappeared, clouds came, and darkness enveloped the lake.

A larger boat drew near and an officer called out, 'Do you need any help? Do you want to tie your boat to ours? We are returning back to the shore.' The man hollered back, 'Thank you but I am okay. God will take care of me.' The crew aboard looked at him very perplexingly, but went on to shore. Several minutes later the Coast Guard drew near and said, 'The storm is worsening. Everyone needs to return back to shore. Several minutes later the Coast Guard drew near and said, 'The storm is worsening. Everyone needs to return back to shore.' The man told the Coast Guard that he was fine. He had been in the navy for 20 years, felt confident, and God provides. The Coast Guard thought this was strange, but they were not going to argue with someone in the middle of a storm. An hour later a helicopter flew over the boat, and the pilot pointed toward the shore. The sailor waved and said, 'I'm okay, God provides.'

Unfortunately, hours later the boat capsized and the sailor died. He was furious and when he went to Heaven he said to the angels, 'Let me speak to God immediately.' The angels looked perplexed and said to themselves, 'He should be glad he made it up here.' The angels ushered the man in to talk to God and then the man hollered out to God, 'I thought you loved me? I thought you said you would never leave me nor forsake me?' God said,'I do love you and I never have left you or forsaken you.' The man told God, 'But you lied to me. You did leave me, you did forsake me. I died and you could have saved me.' God bit his lip trying to hold back his frustration and said, 'I sent someone to rescue you three times. I sent a yacht, the Coast Guard, and a helicopter. Whom do you think sent them?'" -From, "Sankofa: Stories of Power, Hope, and Joy"