Is Your Spiritual Life Like a Sailboat or a Motorboat?

When I was about 10 years old I took some sailing lessons and then did so again when I was in my early 30s. Sailing involves a kind of romancing of the wind, wherein one observes it and then adapts to it, wooing it, learning its moves, its vicissitudes, its often subtle and changing signs.

Oh, for the great times when the wind was with us! Catching the wind, the boat would speed along making a slick sound in the water. Oh, too, for those daring and thrilling times when the spinnaker was put out. The boat would almost strain as the proud winds filled her arcing sail.

There were also difficult days, too, days when the winds were contrary and there was the hard work of tacking, beating, and jibing.

Sailing is an image of receptivity. One cannot control the wind, but must simply accept it, taking it as it is. Yes, the sailor must adjust to what is, to learn to accept and work with what is given, to live in the world as it is rather than wishing for the world as it ought to be.

The sailor must simply accept the wind’s biddings and blessings, the way in which it would have us go: this way and that, sometimes quickly and unexpectedly. The good sailor accepts that a good strong breeze can suddenly grow calm only to stir again moments later. This is especially the case in the sultry days of summer, when the prevailing winds are less evident and their strength and direction can be local and subtle.

Yes, it is all very mysterious. Indeed, Jesus used the wind as an image for mystery when He said to Nicodemus, The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (Jn 3:8).

Thus the wind and sailing become symbolic of the soul interacting with God. We cannot control God nor should we try. Our role is to sense His direction and put out our sails accordingly. We are to “romance the wind” by growing deeper in our love and trust of God. We are to discover the serenity of accepting what is, of following His lead or receiving what is offered rather than seeking to control or manipulate the outcome.

Sometimes God’s Ruah, His Spirit and breath, is a strong and refreshing wind, as at Pentecost when Scripture says, And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were (Acts 2:4). At other times, God speaks in a whispering breeze: And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:12-13)

Yes, allow the wind to represent the movements of God’s Ruah. God is looking for some good sailors, ones who know the subtleties of the wind’s movements and can adjust accordingly.

Now because the wind cannot be controlled and must simply be accepted for what it is, many people prefer motorboats. How much nicer it is to feel empowered from within and to be able to resolutely set one’s own course, no matter the wind! With a motorboat, there is little to no threat of being at the mercy of the winds. There is no need to relate to, nor to be in relationship with, the wind; there is no need of romancing the winds here! No, with a motorboat there is only the need to drive forward with a powerful motor, following one’s own designs.

This is control; this is power. Here is the sailor alone with his own will, dependent on little and certainly on no other person. It is one man alone against the elements.

Motorboats are a mixed blessing, though. They require a good bit of gas, can be noisy, need maintenance, may suffer breakdowns, and can be downright dangerous to other things and people around them.

This is another image of our soul interacting with God. There are many who prefer to be under their own power, dependent upon no one but themselves, acting and operating independently. They prefer not to have to sense the direction of the winds, to watch for other signs, or to consider other factors.

Just as there are dangers with a motorboat, there are dangers associated with this sort of controlling person. Indeed, such individuals can be noisy “gas-guzzlers,” prone to breakdowns, and potentially hazardous to things and people around them. In their perceived power they often barrel through life, missing or ignoring its subtleties, and frequently causing harm to themselves and/or others. “Breakdowns” are almost predictable with this sort of person.

Most people prefer a motorboat, but God is more in the sailboat business. He’s looking for some good souls to sense the breeze of His Spirit, hoist their sails, and follow where He leads.

Each of us is invited to be more like a sailor, following the Spirit’s lead—yes, like a sailor, trusting in and yielding to a Godly breeze.

Here is a remarkable video, not of a sailor at sea, but of a “land sailor,” a kite flier. Note the beautiful interaction as this man romances the wind, working with its subtleties and rejoicing in its moves as in a great dance.

Is Your Spiritual Life Like a Sailboat or a Motorboat?

Hovercraft.

Genesis 1
1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth:
2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; And a spirit from God hovered [מְרַחֶפֶת ] upon the face of the waters:
3. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light:

hovercraft:

רַחֶפֶת

Here's the web browser translation of the first line on the Hebrew Wiktionary page:

"New Hebrew (Navajo) A stress-free vessel that sails as it floats above the water. Advanced gliding with the help of external propellers or a jet engine like that of an airplane."

Navajo? Actually it's "supposed to be" seamanship, navigation [ימאות], but it works just fine as is, for people who know how code (to speak simply, openly into the wind):

Its complex syntax and phonology, not to mention its numerous dialects, made it unintelligible to anyone without extensive exposure and training. One estimate indicates that at the outbreak of World War II, fewer than 30 non-Navajo could understand the language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker#Navajo

The navigation of the seas [ימאות] also reads as sea [ים] + sign [אות].

"A stress-free vessel" [כְּלִי שַׁיִט חֲסַר הֶדְחֵק] is even linked to its own wiktionary page. The phrase adds up to 764, which first appears here as discovered here:

Genesis 1:2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [תהו ובהו וחשך ] was upon the face of the deep; And a spirit from God hovered upon the face of the waters:

Full circle. Kind of like an abandoned boat.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (Jn 3:8)

Join the Navi, see the world!

Discover the Unknown.

Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Parables *are* the simple meanings: spiritual truths explained by way of simple, down-to-earth analogies.

to others in parables that seeing they might not see...

U.S. Navy Hovercraft In Action

Ha, reminds me of some old photos I have of Marines driving their hovercraft right behind my backyard. I'll never forget the sound. Life is a living parable. All orchestrated.

More in the hovercraft department:

Join the NAVI, see Olam Haba (Fa פ"ה, a long long way to run, which is why Naphtali was dispatched):

Nice Apocalypse, Victory [netzach] Insured

Never Again Vex (Vax?) Ingenuity?

Actuaries...

Because a mashal explains a spiritual truth by way of a simple, down-to-earth analogy...

Here's a fig. tree:

Kabbalists believe the tree of life to be a diagrammatic representation of the process by which the universe came into being.

Foundation
YESOD [יסוד]:

יוד סמך וו דלת

↓

מלכות דו

Malchut, Kingdom, of "DO"
(World of Asiyah, Action)

Connected to the foundation by a tav [תו],
which is a musical note,

♪ DO ♪

KINGDOM

KING Mashiach Can DO!

Si? E-Z [🗝️ El]!

"Do-re-mi-fa-so and so on are only the tools we use to build a song. Once you have these notes in your head you can sing a million different tunes...

... by mixing them up. Like this."

♪ ^{^♪} ♪

Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.
When you read you begin with A, B, C
When you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi
Do-Re-Mi
Do-Re-Mi

Solresol translator

doremi -- Day

The sum of the entire octave (the C scale, Sulam Do, or any scale when using Movable do solfège) = 561.

Do [10, דו] + Re [205, רה] + Mi [50, מי] + Fa [85, פה] + Sol [96, סול] + La [35, לה] + Si [70, סי] + Do [10, דו]

Another way of expressing it would be DO, 541, DO!

(541 = Israel, for any passers-by who might be reading).

Kabbalists believe the tree of life to be a diagrammatic representation of the process by which the universe came into being.

Gen 32
29. And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed: (Can-Do!)

All Israel ---> In the Beginning

Where reading 54 meets reading 1 ---> 541, "and this is the blessing in the beginning."

30. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I beg you, your name; And he said, Why is it that you ask after my name? And he blessed him there:

od shimcha ki im Yisrael, ki-sarit, yet your name is as with Israel, like a little prince...

From the first letter of the Torah, the letter skip of 541 reads: בן מרות ושרי,

"a son from Ruth and my prince" (that would be Jacob going by a different name, but not really)

which fits nicely with

Micah 7.20. You will give truth to Jacob, and loving mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old:

Give the truth to Jacob, because wherever you find the tRUTH, you'll find RUTH. And if you can't trust Jacob, whom *can* you trust?

For as Ruth informed her mother-in-law, ahead of their arrival in Bethlehem,

"Do not entreat me to leave you, or to keep from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Never Again Vex Ingenuity...

Ingenuity's $85 million mission was supposed to be done after flight number five. But the solar-powered chopper had performed so well and remained so healthy that NASA granted a mission extension.
1 year later, Ingenuity helicopter still going strong on Mars (23 flights as of March 23rd)

"NASA spent about $80 million to build Ingenuity and about $5 million to operate the helicopter."

Conceptual Design

The last 5 verses of Ruth's 85 verses:

Ruth 4
18. Now these are the generations of Perez; Perez fathered Hezron:
19. And Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab:
20. And Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon:
21. And Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed:
22. And Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David:

ingenuity: The ability to solve difficult problems, often in original, clever, and inventive ways.

From Latin ingenuitas. (originally) The condition of being free-born or noble.

Bilaam to Balak:

"I will advise you what this people shall DO to your people in the latter days."

"Never Again"

NIEMALS WIEDER → RENEW IDEALISM → SAIL. REDEEM. WIN.

Gen 1

1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth:
2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; And a spirit from God hovered upon the face of the waters:
3. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light:

Mark 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly:

Be Blessed!

A boat ride and the airborne song:

Today I learned that COVID-19 is an "infectious disease" [מחלה זיהומית]; i.e. the Hebrew phrase in the intro here.

I always check the math because I just never know.

מחלה זיהומית

= 561

Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Si-Do

Inspirational!

"Do-re-mi-fa-so and so on are only the tools we use to build a song. Once you have these notes in your head you can sing a million different tunes..."