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Winds of the Spirit
Words from CBF-LA Coordinator Reid Doster
Live to Sail Another Day
November 4 , 2011
On top of the World Trade Center, in New Orleans, is The Plimsoll Club restaurant. From there, one can enjoy a sweeping view of the mighty Mississippi River, and the ships that plough her waters. This gathering place for leaders throughout the city, state and nation, is the namesake of a British crusader against corruption, injustice and greed, Mr. Samuel Plimsoll. Research his story and you will learn that he was no stranger to the struggles of the poor and powerless.
In 1853, Plimsoll attempted to become a coal merchant in London, but failed and was reduced to destitution. He described how he lived for a time in a common lodging, for which he paid seven shillings and two pence a week. Through this and other experiences, he learned to empathize with those who suffered, and when his good fortunes returned, he resolved to devote much of his time fighting corruption and abuse in the shipping industry.
The advent of insurance in the 19th century, created an incentive for ship owners purposely to sink their own ships and crews, just to collect the insurance money. This grim practice became so widespread, and killed so many merchant seamen, that the over-insured, overloaded vessels became known as “coffin ships.” Samuel Plimsoll, “the sailors friend,” fought for sweeping merchant shipping regulations that led to the adoption of the marking that bears his name --- the Plimsoll Line. Variations of the line have evolved to calibrate variances in sea conditions, such as water temperature and salinity.
If you look at the outer hull of commercial ships, you might find a painted circle bisected with a long horizontal line. This simple graphic has saved thousands of lives, by clearly indicating when a vessel is overloaded and at risk of sinking in rough seas. If you can see that horizontal line above the water, you’re relatively safe. If you cannot see it, you’re at risk of capsizing in stormy weather.
Do you ever check your own Plimsoll line? Can you even find it? Ask yourself:
- Have I ignored warning signs that I am overloaded, top-heavy and unstable?
- Have I watched others drown, because of my refusal to deviate from a headstrong course?
- Have I taken on other people’s loads to a point where water is pouring in over my sides?
- Have I been swamped by disappointment in people, rather than buoyed by faith in God?
- Have I keeled over and passively relied on others to do what I could for myself?
- Have I allowed “Sinking Thinking” to capsize my joy?
- Have I been drawn into a whirlpool of depression by strong currents of fear, failure, guilt and shame?
- Have I succumbed to a prideful competition of seeing who can haul the heaviest burdens?
- Have I gathered around me a crew of insincere friends who lack courage to speak the truth?
- Have I ignored or denied the fact that my Plimsoll line is submerged?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, then lighten your load, even your keel and live to sail another day!
In His love,
Reid