The Raging Seas

It was October 2002, my husband and my self went on a 2 day cruise for our wedding anniversary to Santander in Spain from an advert in the local evening paper.
This was the longest trip we have made on a ferry, there were lots of people on the ferry mainly drinking and being merry.

Whilst my husband and myself was sitting in the restaurant having a cooked breakfast, we noticed the ferry was rocking a little (we were going over the Bay of Biscay) at this time we noticed the dishes and restaurant equipment was rattling, then we noticed our breakfast plates were sliding across the table.
We decided to leave the restaurant area and sit out in the open space area by the small windows, (I am not a good traveller at the best of times).
We could see the restaurant area from where we were sitting, and some of the crockery fell of their shelves onto the floor.

Lots of people were sitting in the open space by the small windows on both sides of the ferry.
The ferry was rocking quite fiercely side to side, people were asked not to go out side or walk around as it was too dangerous.
I was feeling a little unwell at this time, and my husband did not feel too good either, drinks were falling off the small tables and rolling down the carpet, other people were trying to walk upstairs.
Every one where we sat were very quiet for a short time , we were all frightened, I saw some of the passengers had white faces, and the worried expressions on the faces of the ferry staff.
The staff, were taping the computers down with strong tape to the desks very securely.

When we left Plymouth on the ferry it was gale force 8 and (as I said I am not a very good traveller) we left the ferry to have a walk around the shops in Santander in Spain, then returned to the ferry to come back home.
On the way home it was gale force 10 and it was very frightening, the sea water covered the small windows for at least 10seconds or more at times, (we were 2 decks up).
A Scotsman sat by us coming home and he was cracking jokes non stop, he also told us all he had all day was porridge and beer, he had a very strong Scottish accent and full of stories to tell.
Other people around us were holding on to their companions, others were trying to ring home and telling members of their families that they love them, one person said which made me smile in a sort of way. ”if we are going to sink” or something to those words “at least I have my credit card and car keys with me” this made me smile because he was relying on his belongings to help him out.

At that moment I stared out of the small window and the waves were so high, the sea looked like a swirl pool, the cars were making clunking noises (moving about maybe).
My husband and myself felt we would not see our children again, but I would not phone them and leave them this memory, they know we love them, and this would leave a disturbing memory I believe.
I continued to look out of the window and at this point we could not see the sea below, we were so high up, we had been whisked up onto this high wave, my husband said it was at least 50ft high.

Flashes I remember the disciples in their fishing boat and how scared they were in the storm, I closed my eyes and prayed and prayed and prayed.
I prayed for forgiveness for each one of us, for the families, I prayed about Gods creation (Genesis) about Gods will as I would never tell God what to do, I tried to put my trust in God my Father, I started to sing “The Lords My Shepherd” over and over again in my mind, when I first closed my eyes I heard the Scotsman say to my husband, “ how can your wife sleep through this” later I told my husband I was not sleeping I was praying,( I think by what my husband said I had been praying for several hours, Genesis, creation, and “The Lords My Shepherd” after a while when I opened my eyes I looked out o the window and said  to my husband “its going to be okay, the storm has died down.

In a short time afterwards people were talking and laughing again and we all started to move around again.
After leaving the Scotsman we went up to our cabin, when we walked into the room all of our belongings had fallen of the shelf, we were lucky that nothing had smashed because my bedding was on the floor, I could not sleep on the top bunk so I made my bed on the floor between the bunk bed and a cupboard, the bedclothes had cushioned the fall.
When we went for a walk around we noticed that the floor where the shops are had tape around, lots of things had fallen over and we were not allowed in the shops, it was too dangerous, the area looked a mess.
I always carry small prayer cards around with me to give to people when I have been staying in a room to say thank you.
Yet while I was praying I was asked by God I believe to give a prayer card to a certain member of staff and say thank you to her for her support, this was not going to be easy to say yes I will do this, but when I reflect back to these prayers about Genesis, Gods creation, the disciples in the boat, I knew I had to do this.

When we had our bags packed, we proceeded to go down stairs for instructions on getting off the ferry.
Downstairs I saw this lady I was going to give the prayer card to and the feeling was too great, I said to my husband, “I won’t be long I need to see someone” and before he realised I had hurried of to find this woman, she was just heading into the ladies wc when I stopped her in the doorway, she gave me a strange look, then I gave her the prayer card and said thank you,  for being supportive at the time of the storm, she looked surprised at me as she did not speak English very well, I then proceeded to do the actions of the storm and again said thank you I believe she did understand a little as she then smiled at me and said thank you, thank you.

I did this because I believe God asked me to, and I often think about this time and what this woman felt, and maybe those words on that card may have changed her life, (only God knows) not my will be done but yours, I felt very privileged to do this, my husband was very puzzled as to what I had done, I did try to explain.
When we were allowed to get off the ferry we saw the cars coming out into the open from below, some of them had small dents in them, “was this the storm damage” only God knows and the owners of the cars.
I felt a little sad after I got into our car to go home, because this woman did not understand me, yet I also felt very privileged to do this for God my Father, maybe she understood more than I realised. ”Praise the Lord”!

My reflections,
Father “Help” our unbelief that we may believe and start living our lives for you.    Amen.