Regardless of which boat we were in or whose boat we were in (because our neighbors had boats too), Dad’s most important rule was for each of us to wear a life jacket. Whether we knew how to swim or not, this was the safe and right thing to do. It was no problem for me because at that early age, I didn’t know how to swim. I also didn’t like it when the sailboat leaned to one side or the other for fear of falling out, so I was more than happy to put on my life jacket! We all wore our life jackets with no arguments.
But times have changed. Today there are more boats on the water, more boat operators (who didn’t have a strict Dad like mine to say “get your life jacket on”), more boaters who don’t realize that there are rules for operating a boat on the water, and more people who are more worried about their suntan than their life while on the water.
Regardless of the fact that life jackets save lives, most people do not wear them.
I realize that it’s tempting to boat without wearing a life jacket especially on those hot, hot days. But modern life jackets are available in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Many are thin and flexible. Some are built right into fishing vests. Others are inflatable and compact until they hit water. Then they automatically fill with air. So there’s no excuse not to wear a life jacket on the water!
As you all know, Mike and I are kayakers, and yes, we do wear our life jackets. But the politically correct term is now PFD or Personal Flotation Device. Well it may be a flotation device now, but it is also a LIFE jacket for the purpose of saving lives.
I believe that God is like a life jacket. He is in the business of saving lives. He keeps us above the turbulent waters. He covers us with his protection and saving grace. He is with us and will never leave us. So let me share some comparisons about why I say that God is like a life jacket.