2/6/10

On a Lake Michigan sailing passage from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Washington Island, Wisconsin, Christine and I encountered a sudden thunder storm. What had started as an idyllic 8 hour sail quickly deteriorated into a terrifying cacophony of wind, waves, and lightning. The anchor broke free of its mount on the bow and threatened to hole the side of the hull. I slid along the deck going forward with line in my teeth while Christine struggled against the tiller. The bow alternately rose and fell against the crashing waves… one moment I was 8 feet above the water, the next submerged. I succeeded in securing the anchor and reversed my crawl to the cockpit aft. Shaken by the experience I asked Christine if she had identification zipped in her fowl weather jacket. I was serious and she knew it.

On our marine radio we monitored a Coast Guard rescue of a vessel that had foundered within a couple of miles of us. We had been towing our dingy, but the wind and waves had capsized the 9 foot rowboat… I had to cut it loose. Eventually we were in sight of the harbor entrance, protected waters and land.

On shore but still shaken, my wife and I proceeded to the marina restaurant and saw in the distance a rainbow which appropriately marked the end of our terror. We noted that the other patrons spoke of the pleasant distraction of "the storm". I will ever remember the contrast between the experience of those ashore and us on the water. It stands as a metaphor that in any given day there are those among us who live the same day but are burdened by vastly different experiences… days filled with hunger, poverty, desperation.

Earlier this week my assistant and her husband of 20 years retired for the evening. They had every reason to believe that the sun would rise in the morning and illuminate the same life of love that they had enjoyed the day before. In the middle of the night Scott, age 40, suffered a massive heart attack. The sun never again rose for him. 4 days later his eyes closed forever. Scott leaves his soul mate and two children. For the rest of us Monday was just another day, perhaps we had the distraction of our own "storms" that day… followed by a rainbow. For Scott, his wife, his children, there is no rainbow. At least not today on this earth. Please pray for them. May they all yet find safe harbor.

- Pete Schloss