The car barge that took us over to Deer Island
The amazing thing about rocks is that you can either climb up them or you can
stumble over them! Of course, stumbling over them is not usually done by choice,
and sometimes this feat is made much easier by natural elements such as fog or
darkness. Unfortunately, one of the car barges that cross from Letete to Deer
Island, New Brunswick, got caught up in the fog and stumbled over some of the
rocks at the dock (And yes, even boats can stumble!). Some said it was
carelessness on the part of the captain, but then, I can vouch for the fact that
you can't put much stock in hearsay! In any case, the "why" didn't matter. What
mattered was that this would influence OUR adventures on the following day!
The itinerary for the day looked exciting-exciting enough to make us all bound
out of bed at the sound of the alarm at six a.m. It didn't take us long to find
ourselves in the car and on the road to Letete, where we would wait for our car
barge to carry us to Deer Island. The traffic was light that morning, but from
time to time we had to drive behind a car that seemed to be fueled with "snail"
fuel. Nevertheless, we arrived at our destination just in time, with only a few
cars waiting in front of us. We could see our barge up ahead; but strangely, it
wasn't loading cars! In fact, it seemed to be completely deserted!
The boys and I walked forward to investigate, and soon some of the friendly
local people told us about the barge accident in the night. "But don't worry,"
they said. "There are two barges, and the second one is running! We won't have
to wait more than 30 minutes!"
That was fine with us. The brief 30 minute wait still allowed us to meet the
connecting car barge to Campobello Island, and we still managed to arrive, at
low tide, for our informal "date" with the most scenic lighthouse of the whole
province, East Quoddy Lighthouse (see the East Quoddy Lighthouse for more
details!).
On our way back, we took the opportunity to explore quaint Deer Island, but not
wanting to miss our connection with the car barge for our return trip to the
mainland, we made our way back to Lord's Cove with thirty-five minutes to spare.
Apparently we weren't the only ones who had this idea. Cars were stretched out
for nearly a mile from the ferry landing! And with only one barge running, it
took two and a half hours of patient waiting to finally find ourselves at the
head of the line.
Okay. So maybe we didn't wait ALL that patiently! After all, sitting for two and
a half hours in a hot van with two wiggly boys who had been up since 6 a.m. CAN
become trying on the nerves! We walked back and forth from the van to the dock;
we visited the only gift shop and restaurant in the area (who, by the way, were
the only ones rejoicing about the out-of-commission barge! They were doing a
booming business!); we walked along the Fundy beach (this didn't last long,
however! The tide was rising!); and we visited the local attraction: the
portable potty (A fortune could have been made if admissions had been charged!).
But finally we found ourselves headed back over the Bay of Fundy to Letete.
What started to as a careless accident caused huge consequences. People who
depended on this car barge for transportation were left stranded. Who would have
thought that not paying attention could affect so many people?
Sin works the same way. We may think that we are free to do whatever we want to
do, and that our actions will only affect ourselves. We only realize once it's
too late that they have an impact on everyone, from our loved ones to total
strangers. Even those sins that are done in complete darkness eventually catch
up with us and turn into nightmares. Our actions most definitely affect others!
Why? Because sin can be defined as having our own way no matter what, as
breaking our relationship with our Maker as well as others (see Matthew 22:
37-40). Those who are enslaved to sin (sin quickly becomes a vicious habit
impossible to break!) stumble over the Light that came down from heaven to
rescue them. They stumble over the Rock of salvation, and this affects others as
well! "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that
makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Rom
9:33 NIV); "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light
shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:4-5
NIV); and "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of
light because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19 NIV)
However this stumbling can be transformed into deliverance! If we choose to
stand firm upon the Rock instead of stumbling over it, we will experience
deliverance from our deadly habits. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us
free. Stand firm, then…" (Gal 5:1 NIV); "You have been set free from sin…" (Rom
6:18 NIV); and "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John
8:36 NIV)
Our actions do affect others. We can continue to stumble over our sinful habits,
rejecting the deliverance offered to us, or we can start to stand on the Rock,
welcoming His deliverance and enjoying freedoms that we have never enjoyed
before. Our decision will determine how we will influence those around us.
Watch out, danger ahead! How will you deal with it?
Rob Chaffart
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