I really find it hare to believe sometimes that it has been almost 15 years ago that I went to Puerta Cabeza on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua for the very first time. Bradley my oldest son made that visit with me. I was blessed to preach a Crusade in the Central Church near the market for a week. It was blessed by God in so many ways. On this trip we saw this port town and its way of life prior to the great growth of the city. Today this city is three times what it was 15 years ago. As the name say it is a port city. What makes it a port is the wharf. The long wooden trestle that runs out into the Atlantic Ocean is accessible by small ocean going cargo ships. This is a lifeline to many people who live not only in Puerta Cabeza but in all of this Northeast area of Nicaragua. Anything shipped into this area will have to come off a ship at this wharf.
On my first trip one night as we finished the services and we were still full of energy from the excitement of the services we came up with the idea we wanted to see the wharf. One of the men of the church said, "Ok" so we went to the Wharf.
When we got there we began to walk out onto the very long wooden structure. As we proceeded our host told us that the last half had been damaged by a storm. We were walking by moonlight and flashlight as there was no street lights on the wharf. As we walked I began to notice larger and larger gaps between the timbers we were walking on and cautioned Bradley. We were maybe 200 yards out on the pier and the hole were even bigger and we were stepping over places that if you did not watch you could easily fall through. Now let me make sure you have the setting firm in your mind. I am in a foreign country where I hardly speak the language. I am walking in the dark on a damaged structure that has gaps so large you could easily fall into a hole. And if you did you would fall into the Atlantic Ocean almost a quarter of a mile from shore in a pretty rough sea. In some places we actually had to sort of jump over the gaps, and I have my sixteen year old son dodging these dangerous hole with me in the dark.
I am not sure at what point I said "Hey this is far enough." But I do know it was much father than Bradley's mother would have been comfortable with. I do not think our guide realized how dangerous it was because he lived there. There were no warning signs. No sign that made you think like, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. But there was a sense of reality that hit me that if you fall you will die. Remember also that we had been lead out here by some one who just wanted us to see something. No real purpose, no real need, just fooling around.
Well, obviously we made it back but the trip off of the Wharf was different than the walk out because I realized the danger. It made a big difference when I did realize it. I am not sure our guide or Bradley did at the moment. But to tell the truth I got scared for a moment.
Have you come to the moment in life where you realize there is great danger in walking the way you are going? There is safety in walking with God. But our friends and people in this world will lead us into danger without realizing sometimes. If they do not know any better and you do not either it is easy to end up somewhere that you can get hurt.
We have a set of instructions for life that we must read and know at least the basics. The Word of God should be studied and taught to our children so that they do not make mistakes and be lead into danger. Common sense should be used too.
I have been back on that wharf a good many times since then. Now there is a fence that is locked at night to keep adventuresome souls off the pier at night. Now the timbers have been replaced and the holes are gone. Now there are lights to see in the dark. I took the photos about 5 or 6 years ago. But I will never forget the night Bradley and I were lead into danger.
Psalm 73:22-24 (NASB)
22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.
And it's a really good thing that I didn't know this until now ={
Posted by: Kathy Davis | August 27, 2013 at 08:11 AM