Threads

That's a younger, tanner me, surrounded by friends and family, rigging up our little C-15, a sweet sail boat. We've owned bigger boats, kept in slips- and smaller boats, kayaks- kept in our garage and carried on car top, I've loved them all. Boating and more often the dream of boating has been a thread that's run through my life since childhood.

When the Sear's Catalog came to our house when we were kids, I turned to the sports section and checked out the Ted Williams fishing boats. In HS a buddy of mine and I dreamt of moving to Baja, settling in on some unchartered coast, surfing, fishing and rowing a dory boat. If a friend or family member owned a boat- they invited me. I saved money to fish on boats. I even spent a month on a Greek Island, (got there on a boat), living in a cave, (no lie), and each morning the fishermen would row their boats around the little peninsula and I'd wake up just to watch them go by. Boats... as much as I loved them, they were merely a way to get me on the water. I've always loved the water.

Winter of 1970 a friend's dad took me sailing on their "little" boat: they had two- a beautiful middle class sailing vessel in a slip- and a C- the C stands for Coronado - 15 kept at their yacht club. He sailed it in cold gray weather, under heavy winds, without a worry- pointing out to me what he was doing as he skippered, teaching me how to crew for him as we sailed. I'd spent teen aged summers sailing a C-15 with friends, in warm weather, diving in the ocean when it got too serious. But this guy went out in winter because it was serious. And I fell in love with the C-15. Dreamed of the day I would own one.

That's it in the picture- at Mission Bay, August, 199? something. I bought it from a guy for $700- who'd bought it new in 1971, sailed it several times in fresh water, stuck it in the garage when his family lost interest, but held onto it for almost 25 years... couldn't bear to let it go. The day I brought it home, giddy with excitement, I swore I'd never let my little boat sit... but I did.

Not that we didn't sail her, we all loved her. Every member of our family and many of our friends still tell stories and laugh about good times together. Then we got a bigger boat... the C-15 wasn't being used and it was time to let go. I fought to find time to get to the "big" (really a modest '23 ft sailer given to us) boat- the C-15 didn't stand a chance. Sold it to a college professor who helped establish study bases on Antartica. He drove from Half Moon Bay to pick her up and we spent the night "talking story." The next morning all I had left was some wonderful memories and the occasional picture I run across... and the thread that draws me back to the water... I feel it's pull every day.

Each of us have threads that pull at our hearts: a young love, a hobby, a horse, a collection... something that speaks to our inner being... something that takes us someplace where we begin to live out our dreams. It's the way God made us: to dream. Around the world people are preparing their hearts for Easter. For those of us who follow Christ, it's The Thread that pulls at us throughout the year. When we first discover that God loves us, that Jesus lived, died and lives today for us, we're excited- it's even better than that new boat, coin, stamp, TV, bike, painting, whatever it is that makes you dream, Jesus is The Dream. Finding Him surpasses all other joys.

Soon, too soon, too often, the joy wears off and we lose our way... then it's Easter and we're reminded of the sacrifice, the celebration our invitation and the incredible Grace of our loving Creator and our hearts are pulled towards Him again and His promise of a new beginning. We can afford to let go of a boat- but we can never lose our faith. It's The Thread that holds us close to The Heart of God pulling us away from our personal challenges and turning our eyes towards God... towards His Dream of love, hope, life, unity and joy for His children.

May He richly fill your spirit in the days to come. And if you're on Easter break- go sailing- get on a boat- live The Dream.

still dreaming,

Eric