Volume Four – Miracles at Sea

Description

There are moments in life when we think we are simply making a decision, only to discover later that we were being led toward a much greater purpose.

This is one of those stories.

My neighbor in Howard, Florida, lived next door to my mother’s house at 8877 Southwest 127th Terrace in Miami, Florida. One day, he asked me if I would be willing to attend his ordination service. He was being ordained and wanted my support.

I agreed.

He gave me the time and the location: Gaffney, South Carolina.

I made my way there, and while I was in South Carolina, I met one of my cousins, Tim. He knew of a place where boats were being sold. I decided to purchase a boat and began making my way back toward Florida.

I was excited about my new boat and wanted to test it out.

But I also remembered that my friend’s ordination was going to be held on Sunday.

It was Saturday when I passed by my house and continued toward Monroe County and the Florida Keys.

By this time, I realized I was not going to be able to make it to the ordination service.

I called my mother and told her, “Please tell him I’m sorry. Something came up, and I wasn’t able to support him.”

I continued farther into the Keys.

Alone at Sea

Somewhere in the Lower Keys, I took my boat far out into the water.

I went so far that there was nothing around me but ocean. No buildings. No people. No nearby land in sight.

I anchored my boat and started fishing.

Sunday morning came.

It was around 10:00 a.m., and the sun was hot.

But the fish weren’t biting.

Not one.

I became frustrated.

I started thinking about my neighbor and wondering how I was going to explain that I didn’t show up to support him because I was out fishing in my new boat—and I hadn’t even caught anything!

As I sat there sweating and thinking about what a bad idea this had been, something happened that I will never forget.

I heard a whistle.

Then I heard it again.

A whistle.

In the middle of the ocean.

I looked around.

There was nothing around me but water.

Then I heard the whistle again.

I looked behind me and saw someone in a light jacket holding onto a jet ski.

She was sinking.

And she was sinking fast.

The Rescue

I immediately pulled up the anchor, reeled in my fishing rod, and headed toward her.

When I reached her, I discovered she was a Spanish woman.

I brought her aboard my boat, but she was so exhausted that she could barely speak.

I started heading back toward shore.

She was tired, weak, and exhausted.

Eventually, she was able to speak.

She looked at me and said, “Thank you for rescuing me. I was on my last breath. I was out in the middle of nowhere, and then you appeared.”

Then she told me something else.

There were other people who needed to be rescued. They were stranded on an island.

She asked if I would take her there to help rescue them.

She even offered to pay me if I would take her to the island.

I agreed.

I pulled the jet ski along with me, took her back toward the island, and helped rescue the other people who were stranded.

Everyone made it safely.

What started as a day of fishing in my new boat turned into a rescue mission.

A Miracle at Sea

I had been upset because I wasn’t going to my friend’s ordination.

I was disappointed because I wasn’t catching any fish.

I was questioning why I had even decided to take that trip.

But what if I had gone to the ordination?

What if I had stayed home?

What if I had never bought that boat?

What if I had not gone into the water that day?

What if I had anchored somewhere else?

What if I had ignored that whistle?

There are some questions that we may never be able to answer.

But I know this:

I was in the right place at the right time.

What I thought was a wasted Sunday became an opportunity to save lives.

I thought I was going fishing.

Instead, I became a rescuer.

Sometimes what looks like a wrong turn can lead you directly to your purpose.

Sometimes the place you think you shouldn’t be can be exactly where you are needed.

And sometimes, when you hear a voice—or even a whistle—in the middle of nowhere, you have to be willing to listen.

That day at sea became one of the most memorable moments of my life.

It reminded me that miracles can happen anywhere—even in the middle of the ocean.