Alter Your Course!

The captain of a ship looked into the dark night and saw lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south."

Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north."

The captain was angered his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south - I am a captain."

Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north. I am seaman third class Jones."

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south - I am a battleship."

Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north - I am a lighthouse."

Applications:

• Life directions: We all need to evaluate the direction our lives are heading – to life or to destruction?
• Circumstances/Difficulties/Challenges: Life throws up challenges that force us to unexpectedly alter our course, even when we don’t want to.
• Pride/Humility: We often see ourselves as captains of battlecruisers, demanding what we want without taking account of others
• Obedience: God is the lighthouse, we are on the battlecruiser