On Saturday, I thought I would make an early start, and got away from the mooring about 6.20am to travel up to Wheaton Aston for fuel from a supplier that has lower prices than most. Arriving about 2 hours later, I was pleased to find no other boats waiting, and I was soon filled up and on my way. I decided that I would worship at Wheaton Aston church on Sunday so went as far as High Onn before winding and coming back to moor here at about 11.30am.
There is a lock at Wheaton Aston, and I thought it would be pleasant to meet folk there and offer to help work boats through the lock if it would help. Here was the first of two really tremendous God-instances.
About 3.45pm I had set the lock for a Viking Afloat boat arriving from the Autherley Junction direction and, as it approached, I thought I recognised the young girl sitting in the well-deck. Imagine my surprise when I realised it was one of my delightful nieces! Within a few moments her Mum appeared with windlass ready to operate the lock and nearly jumped out of her skin to see me there. My brother on the tiller similarly seemed a bit stunned.
I had not seen them for some months, and it was a temendous blessing to be able to spend a short while with them. They stopped for water here, so a cup of tea and cake soon appeared before they set off again.
The second of these events occured later in the evening when boat went past and then, shortly after, reversed back to greet me.
It turned out that the guy steering the boat had noticed David & Joan's names on the boat and had also seen the Boaters' Christian Fellowship stickers and it had set him thinking. Apparently he and David had been students together at Durham in the late 60s!
I was able to contact David on my mobile, and they had a reminiscent chat for a while.
Two instances of serendipity like this remind me that our life journeys are often more than just the passing of time and distance. For Christian folk in particular I believe that God's purposes are served by these God-instances in ways we might not at first perceive but, in God's greater scheme of things they serve his purpose for good.
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