Eleazar Hall

by Joey Davis

Eleazar Hall was from Bedford, Massachusetts. He sailed during a time of great sailing ships and was renowned, legendary, revered as the most successful of all sea captains of his day. He worked harder, stayed out longer, and lost fewer men while catching more fish than any other rigger captain during his time.

Captain Hall was often asked about his uncanny ability to stay out so long without navigational equipment. He was once gone for two years without coming home for a point or reference.

Eleazar simply replied, "Oh, I just go up on the deck and listen to the wind. I get the drift of the sea, look up at the stars, and then set my course"

Times changed in Bedford. Insurance companies moved in and began refusing insurance to any shippers who did not employ a certified navigator for each ship. They were terrified to tell Captain Hall. Yet, when he heard of this regulation, he just said," If I must, I will go and take the navigational courses."

Eleazar not only took the course, but graduated top in his class. Having greatly missed the sea, he immediately set sail on a long voyage. On the day of his return the whole town turned out to ask him the twenty-million dollar question . . . "Eleazar, has was it having to navigate with all those charts and equations?'

Eleazar just sat back, thought for a while, let out a long low whistle and said, "Oh. it was really simple. Whenever I wanted to know my location, I'd go to my cabin. get out my charts and tables, work the equations and set My course with scientific precision. Then I'd go up on the deck and listen to the wind. get the drift of the sea. look at the stars and go back and correct the errors that I had made in my computations." . . .

. . . We must be careful lest we lose our gift for seeking and hearing God.

We live in a fast-paced world that sees science and technology as its greatest hope. Yet. after all of the years of psychology, sociology. and humanism being pumped into our society, people are still experiencing real doubt. real pain, and real confusion over the direction of their lives.

Truth is, when we need direction in our lives, we would be much better off finding a quiet place and seeking the one who created the wind, waves, and stars. Our Lord knows the way!

May we go up on deck for the sole purpose of hearing His still small voice in our hearts, considering His eternal Word and then go back below and make the necessary adjustments to all of the fine logical, and scientific plans we have drawn up in our heart.