There are also lessons you can learn from large flat bodies of water. For example, if you are sailing on a lake it is vital that you use the wind skillfully to propel your craft in an upright position and in the direction you want to travel. But if you have ever sailed on a lake you know that the wind can shift direction and increase or decrease in intensity. If the wind suddenly increases without warning, you can capsize if the sail has not been adjusted for the sudden wind increase. So to be ready for that change a sailor has to be ready and watching for the wind to change. How do you see the wind coming when you are out on a lake? You must know how to “read” the water. If a gust of wind is coming toward you from a distance ahead the water will look a little darker due to a rippling effect made by the wind on the surface. You can actually watch that rippling water get closer and closer so you know exactly when the wind will hit your sails. Being ready for the gust is all about looking ahead.
So with our lives: Jesus asked his disciples this question - - ‘Who does not count the cost before building more barns for storing grain?’ Counting the cost is an example of looking ahead. He didn’t tell them to look only ahead – to live in the future, but to be aware of signs of things to come that could help in making awake/conscious decisions. Look at the surface of the lake and notice the different texture in the distance. You can see the wind coming. But what if you did not know to look for a change of texture on the surface of the water? If the wind coming is very strong, you could easily capsize. So knowing to look ahead as well as what to look for is important in sailing, as is knowing what signs to look for in our lives. Being aware of signs is similar to being awake or fully conscious in our lives. It is easy to be lulled back to sleep when all is smooth sailing.
