River pilots and God's guidance

Pat and I now live less than five miles from the Delaware River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Dutch settled here in 1631. The bay area is full of quaint historic homes and commercial buildings and the lore of early settlers challenges even those who imagine in technicolor.

A few traditional occupations of the area survive the passage of time to our modern, sophisticated age. River pilot, Bill Lowe of Lewes, has one of those jobs, as other members of his family have before him. A Delaware River pilot can be found on Lowe’s family tree for 10 generations, beginning with John E. Maull, who began working in the 1750s, before the Revolutionary War.

River pilots are licensed to provide pilotage services for the maritime industry. Pilots possess knowledge and ship-handling skills necessary all types and sizes of vessels to safely transit the Delaware in all kinds of weather, at all hours of the day and night, 365 days a year. River pilots have engaged in this demanding profession since learning the skill from Native Americans.

Delaware River pilots are responsible for guiding shipping from the mouth of the Delaware Bay to ports along the river in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, a stretch of about 130 miles. The operation never stops and, for river pilots, holidays don’t exist. When ships arrive from the ocean, pilots are taken to meet them on a craft similar to a speedboat. The small boat pulls alongside the ship, and the pilot climbs a rope ladder to board the moving vessel. Once aboard, the pilot is escorted directly to the bridge and takes control.

Pilots also board outgoing ships at northern port, from Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington, and Delaware City to guide the vessels out to sea. One of the concerns of piloting, and it happens occasionally, is not being able to get off a ship exiting the bay in rough seas. When the smaller craft that deliver and pick up pilots are unable to reach a departing ship, the pilot may end up weeks later in a foreign country.

River pilots are engaged at points of transition, for traversing areas unfamiliar to the ship’s captain. Pat and I have traveled through life experiences unfamiliar to us and have been amazed at the precision with which God has guided us through treacherous spiritual mine fields, sent help when we were absolutely helpless, and surrounded us with special people when we were vulnerable. This week we will share a series of anecdotal reports of how God exceeded our best dreams. The theme is found in Matthew 6:8, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Our experiences stirred into the knowledge of His Word, and witness of the Holy Spirit guides us more perfectly than the best of river pilots.

Edward Hopper’s Gospel song of several generations past captures the theme well.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me,
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal;
Chart and compass came from Thee:
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist’rous waves obey Thy will
When Thou say’st to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
’Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”