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Get off the Boat

by Sandra Bennett
TCF

19 Jun

Jen, Finding Heaven Today, has a post on…fear which is what I call most of the unknowns in life. She talks about leaving the boat which reminds me of the card someone sent Dave and I when we bought this farm. The card showed two people, standing at a crossroads, with a sign that pointed “Normal” and “Off the Beaten Path”. The couple stood at the lane that lead to “Off the beaten path” and the caption said, “George, are you sure we should do this?”

Dave used to say, “Once you get off the boat, you can never go back.” He and Cathy were going to sell out, move to Hawaii and raise blood hounds except cancer changed those plans and she died. Eleven months after she died, I met Dave and he and I moved to Hawaii and lived for a while (separate bedrooms) because he needed to find his bearings. Little did either of us know it would take six years for him to regain equilibrium but he was worth every day of wait. Evidently, he thought the same of me.
We bought this farm and moved from Richmond where we’d each lived for years. It was a great decision; it taught us to rely on each other, to depend upon each other and it was the beginnings of a foundation that stood us in good stead over the years. What cemented that foundation, that trust, that love was when we began to travel. 


The first time I ever needed a passport, I was invited to teach in Russia. Thankfully, Dave decided he wanted to go and the two of us landed in the Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport where we wandered around for a while. Long story short, the people who were supposed to meet us were detained…for a week…and Dave and I were on our own. The man who’d put the trip together had arranged for a car and driver; eventually, Dave and I were found and, after a phone call to ascertain it was legit, we loaded our luggage into a van with two Russians, one of whom was ex-KGB. Oh yeah, talk about fear factor -smile-. We drove for about five hours before we arrived in Yaroslavl where I was to teach first. It didn’t take long for Dave and I to surmise our translator, the ABC no-neck guy as he was quickly labeled, was a severe alcoholic…by eleven o’clock in the morning! God knows what he translated that week but our reception was warm and I still correspond with some of those people we met, so it might not have been too bad. I think. 

Dave and I “got off the boat” to make that trip and it was the beginning of a lot of trips, most of them mild adventure that made for wild adventure and a lot of memories. Were we frightened? Oh yes…but we did it anyway. Like I told my mother when she had a panic attack over our going to Russia, “If God can take care of us in Virginia, He can take care of us in Russia. It’s not a problem for God.” In the years since, He’s taken care of us, and now me, in almost thirty countries and in situations that were sometimes…tense. (Remembering here the Russian Mafia in Gori, Georgia and camping in the Moroccan Sahara Desert nine clicks from the Algerian border.) Since Dave’s death, God has kept me safe in Sint Maartin and I feel confident He’s also kept me safe each and every day since.

A few years ago, a friend told me she admired me and I was surprised. I asked her why and she said, “because you’re not afraid of anything.” Again, she surprised me and I told her, “Oh yes, I’m afraid. I’m afraid if I say “no” to God, He’ll stop giving me opportunities.”  Getting up in the morning takes a lot of faith and courage. How do people who don’t have God in their lives manage? I mean, why bother? Life is full of unknowns; it’s full of what if’s and, for me, it’s full of Jesus. 


I don’t know what the future will bring, heck, I’m not sure what all I’m doing tomorrow but I do know my future includes Jesus. 

And that means I can step out confidently, in the direction of my dreams. What’s your dream and will you join me?


Blessings ~ Dave ~ travel ~ mild adventure ~ Jesus ~ 

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Comments

  1. dori says

    June 22, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Big Compliment, Sandra, nearly uncredible. Respect! Adventurous!

    Reply
  2. Karen says

    June 19, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    ooh, I love this post, Sandra.. one of my favorites. And what a book you could author. I hope it comes to be 🙂

    Reply
  3. Donna says

    June 19, 2013 at 8:15 pm

    Thank you for such an inspiring post. If I could give you a big hug right now, I would. People think that I am brave, but actually, I have the same fears as most folks. I just don't let fear rule my life. It's hard to put our faith in God, but it's just as hard not to!

    We are being sorely tested right now in our lives, and I'm leaving it to the big guy to managed for us. Am I still fearful? You betcha. But I'm going to trust the big guy to take care of us.

    Reply
  4. Quinn says

    June 19, 2013 at 8:07 pm

    What a remarkable post, Sandra! Thanks for sharing it 🙂

    Reply
  5. Jill Cooper says

    June 19, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    Wow Sandra, I didn't realize you had traveled that much – you are much braver than I. I've traveled some and I always enjoy it when I get there but the anticipation is the worrisome part for me. Why I don't practice what I preach and just give it to God is beyond me! LOL

    Reply
  6. Farm Girl says

    June 19, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    Wonderful reminders. It is so true. I am so glad you shared that, because it is true, it is more scary to not get out of the boat. It is much better to shut your eyes, and take God's hand because He leads where we dreamed and then when we get there is is so much better.
    You story about Russia is just riveting.
    You have led quite a wonderful life.
    You know what else? I often wonder how people do it without Jesus too.
    Great stories and I really enjoy them.

    Reply
  7. Fay Iseminger says

    June 19, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    Thanks for another wonderful, inspiring post. Your light is an encouragement to us all.

    Blessings,
    Fay

    Reply
  8. Paula Fraker says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    This was beautiful, Sandra…. what wonderful memories you have of yours and Dave's many adventures! And best of all is that you can look back and say, "God was with us everywhere our feet touched the ground."
    ((HUGS))

    Reply
  9. Amber says

    June 19, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    This post is absolutely awesome! And your Moscow airport experience sounds so much like our experience in the Kiev airport in Ukraine. I especially appreciated the whole thing about calling to make sure it was "legit." I soooo understand that! This post was such a blessing to me. Very encouraging! I pray that you have a wonderful day!

    Reply
  10. Amber says

    June 19, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    This post is absolutely awesome! And your Moscow airport experience sounds so much like our experience in the Kiev airport in Ukraine. I especially appreciated the whole thing about calling to make sure it was "legit." I soooo understand that! This post was such a blessing to me. Very encouraging! I pray that you have a wonderful day!

    Reply
  11. KathyB. says

    June 19, 2013 at 7:44 am

    A post that somewhat answers and / or inspires a hot topic my husband & I had tonight. ( last night blogging time )The what if's, and I should haves, or why didn't you, why didn't I ? are standing questions in life and really all fall into God's realm of time and providence. I just need to remember. He is in control.

    You have led a very interesting and note-worthy life Sandra. You are brave, very brave.

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:30 am

    A beautiful post, Sandra.

    Reply
  13. Beth says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:27 am

    "Stepping out confidently in the direction of my dreams." And we can do this because our life includes Jesus. Oh this inspired me today.
    Blessings,
    Beth

    Reply
  14. Dewena Callis says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:25 am

    It was good to read this, Sandra.

    I just noticed what is written above this comment box: "…and the work of your hands and heart." Very nice.

    Reply
  15. Grammasheri says

    June 19, 2013 at 1:31 am

    Inspiring post, and I thank you.

    Reply
  16. Michelle says

    June 19, 2013 at 12:59 am

    Loved this post. Some people dream and make future plans; me, I just follow God and live day to day enjoying the journey.

    Reply

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