The Capsized Boat

[Red Prudente]

While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft. Spotting an old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted, "Are there any gators around here?" "Naw," the man hollered back, "Ain't been any for years!" Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming toward the shore. As he got closer to the shore he shouted to the guy again "What did you do to get rid of the gators?" "We didn't do nothin'," the beachcomber said. "The sharks got 'em all."

You know Jesus, that when things were not going well, my mom used to utter: "if it isn't one thing, it's another!" It's true! If it isn't the gators it's the sharks! If it isn't being out of work, it's being sick. If it isn't being sick, it's having a problem getting along with someone. If it isn't that, it's a loved one's bad health, if it isn't that, it's a car accident. If it isn't that, it's the untimely death of a loved one. The list of things that go wrong, the list of the ways we suffer goes on and on. And the things on that list can upset us tremendously. Jesus, at times like these, please help us to remember that we are not alone. Help us to continue to place our trust in you.