In November of 2010 our family moved aboard Volare again, this time sailing for seven months down the chain of the Caribbean Islands, to the Grenadines, and back up to North Carolina.
A surprising benefit of our time at sea was the friends we made. I expected sailing to be a solitary enterprise, but it was far from lonely. The sailing community is friendly and helpful. Many retired cruisers treated our kids like the grandchildren they were missing. They invited us to dinner and gave us a plethora of useful information: where to go for groceries, water, or laundry service; sights not to be missed; and where the best snorkeling could be found.
We were helped greatly by experienced sailors who had traveled those waters before. Isn’t that like our walk of faith? We’ve been surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Take note of the benevolence of God’s people. As they minister to you, look for ways to also make your love to others sincere, as Paul says (v. 9). And above all, let’s follow Jesus, the One who went before us.