My friends and I had planned a Great Rivers of Europe trip for over a year. As the date approached, a drought hit and some cruises were changed to bus/land trips. Finally, confident the itinerary would be as promised, we packed, and four days later, flew across the big pond. Plans included cruising several rivers and canals. History, architecture, and culture came to life. So did the new cuisine.
One morning, excited about another day of sightseeing, I moved the curtains on my cabin’s window. Prepared to see a river and countryside, I was stunned when faced with a wall. Right-a wall. Locks were a regular feature of our river cruise. This time, we were stuck in a lock.
In case you aren’t familiar with locks, they are devices used for raising and lowering boats and ships between stretches of different levels on waterways. They’re impressive, until you realize if you are in a ship, you are practically entombed in one. The wall outside of my cabin attested to that.
Without a scenic view from my cabin, I walked to the dining room for breakfast. While I was enjoying my omelet and warm croissants with new friends, the captain and crew were measuring and moving. In a twenty-minute process, gates opened, closed, and opened again. On schedule, at 9 am, passengers disembarked for a walking tour. We were out of the lock and moving to explore another unique town.
One evening after dinner, a program director announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are passing through one of the three largest locks on the river, eighty-six feet tall. Come on deck and toast with everyone.”
Despite chatter, multiple phone cameras documenting the event, and an abundance of champagne and sparkling juice, I looked at the imposing walls and realized I was surrounded. We were immoveable, waiting for the gates to open, and dependent on the crew’s expertise to get us through on to the river.
Stuck between two places; watching and waiting. A lot like life. We feel stuck and want gates to open.
Maybe one life chapter has ended and we’re looking for a new beginning. It isn’t happening on our timetable or as we had hoped or planned. Perhaps our chapters look like waiting for reconciliation in a relationship and the other party is unwilling. We wait for medical test results, and they are inconclusive. Some changes are expected- job to retirement, children to empty next. Other changes come at us, like unexpectedly seeing the wall outside of my cabin window: a new lifestyle after divorce, losing a job, or a moving to new school better suited to a child’s learning needs but affecting family schedules and dynamics. Some life changes are exciting, similar to an afternoon on the deck complete with sunshine, where we enjoyed the company of new friends and watched the lock process together.
But often, in life changes, we don’t entertain enjoyment or sunshine, but feel as if we are locked in.
From a bystander’s perspective, operating a lock is simple. When a boat is travelling downstream, the lock is already full of water, the entrance gates are opened, the boat moves in, and the entrance gates are closed. Locked in. A valve is opened, lowering the boat by draining water from the chamber. The exit gates are opened and the boat moves out. For a boat travelling upstream, the process is reversed; The whole operation can take between ten to twenty minutes. Locks were a fascinating and essential part of the cruise. If a ship didn’t depart on time, its place in line would be lost. Reaching the destination would be delayed.
We question delays, but the processes in life transitions may be essential to arrive at a desired goal or destination.”]”]
How can we manage well in our locked position before we navigate to our next place? Are we really stuck or is it part of a process leading to a different destination? Should we be more aware of what else is happening-a character test, a learning phase, or preparation for something new and unfamiliar? Are we resisting and delaying progress, or resisting developing spiritual disciplines and habits of grace?
In life changes and transitions, it helps to evaluate our perspective. You may want to journal your answers as you consider your process:
- Do we see changes coming at strategic places for our good to fulfill God’s purposes?
- Do we view our experiences as life interruptions and obstacles to our plans?
- Can we look at the timeline of our life and see transitions as creatively designed under God’s oversight and care?
- Is staying still viewed as an opportunity to rest and regroup?
- Do we respect or resist the process?
- Do we trust God is expertly working behind the scenes?
Some may think locks are a nuisance, inconvenient, and an obstacle, slowing the trip. But technology and engineering work together to create an amazing lock system for safety, movement, and progress. One look at a crew navigating inches between the side of a ship and a lock’s wall develops respect for their expertise.
Have never been through locks on a large boat/ship like that, but was always fascinated traveling by boat up and down the Kissimmee River in central Florida to/from Lake Okeechobee. I remember how the far gates would open and I saw a wall of water (sometimes 12 feet or more above our small boat). As the water came rushing in our boat would slowly rise until the gates were fully opened and we could exit the lock. I thought then, how God moves us safely through transitions in our lives. He surrounds us and protects us as He prepares us for the next leg of our journey. Thank you for reviving wonderful memories Ms. Marilyn.
Thank you for adding to the message with your experience and application. Marilyn
Your message is insightful and thought provoking. The metaphor of the “lock” is appropriate for those times we may feel trapped or “walled” in by circumstances beyond our control. Just as you and the other passengers depended on the crew’s knowledge and experience to get you safely through the lock, we need to depend on our “Counselor and Guide”, the Holy Spirit, to get us through those hard challenges. When we feel trapped by life’s painful circumstances, our Lord is the one who frees us from that captivity. Thank you, Marilyn.
Oh yes, Katherine. I think the painful locked in times call us to stay still and go to a deeper level of trust in God. Those times may seem like delays (for our agenda) and interruptions in our plans, but they can serve us well in our walk with Jesus in new ways. Marilyn
Thanks for the lessons from your trip. We can feel locked in place when our schedules and lives get interrupted but God always finds a way to redeem our time and teach us to trust Him. As I watch the calendar count down to the day we can go home, I sometimes feel locked in by time. However, I know each day is a blessing and our time overseas has been an experience I will never forget. But I am anxious to get home. In about 20 days we will be flying. Blessings, Marilyn!
Barbara, from your blogs I know your locked position/interruption in your usual daily life- has been valuable to you and you have passed on great lessons to others, including me. Blessings as you head home. Marilyn
Wonderful job, Marilyn, of drawing an analogy between the locks and the changing seasons of our lives. I agree that journaling in a valuable tool in adjusting to life’s changes. Thanks and God bless!
Thank you Nancy, for stopping by. Marilyn
Great questions to consider when life paralyzes us.
Unfamiliar with locks, I enjoyed learning about them. Wonderful analogy with those times we feel stuck.
Locks were fascinating Candyce, and my first experience too. When I was enclosed, and we were still it held many applications for me-especially the “still part”
What a perfect analogy, Marilyn. There are so many times we feel locked in place, but you’ve reminded us wherever we are with God is a place of security and progress. I appreciate the questions near the end of the post. Good ones to remember.
Thank you Jeannie. Locked positions vary in scope and intensity so I use those questions as a check for me.
What an adventure and I’m looking forward to the rest of the story next week.
This was a great analogy for our walk of faith too. So many great reminders to trust God in all situations