Sailboats and Wind

Sailboats can use a headwind (a wind blowing directly opposite of the direction they want to go) to move forward by tacking. A tailwind is obviously much easier and more efficient to use, because you just open your sails, and go in a straight line.

In our life, we similarly can draw energy and motivation from negative examples and positive examples. Negative examples directly oppose the thing we want to do; but just like a tacking ship, we can draw extra energy from opposing forces – the simplest example is by our being determined to prove they can't keep us down. They can also remind us of what not to do when we have the chance to influence someone else. A tailwind, by contrast, takes our ship and always lovingly pushes it forward: it is constant, and unfailing, and always contributes as much energy as our possibly weak and damaged sail can hold at that time. But it only ever pushes us in the right direction.

There is, of course, another kind of phenomena in sailing: no wind. A ship that’s designed to run on wind cannot go very efficiently with no energy directed at it. Modern ships get around this problem by storing energy (fuel) that can be used to power an engine through calm seas. In life, we meet people who simply don’t care about us one way or the other. In stark contrast to the forces of good and evil, which continually seek to persuade us (Moro.7:12-13), some people are indifferent to our choices and our quality of life here and hereafter. Many of these people are absorbed in other (often very worthy) pursuits (such as helping their friends and family they have already committed to) or afraid of giving offence; some are afraid of us or doubtful of their own ability to provide help to even their dearest friends, let alone strangers. Whatever the excuse, all of us let opportunities to help our neighbor go unrealized, and the lack of caring is keenly felt in people who are designed to run on caring the way a sailboat runs on wind or a car runs on gasoline (that includes all people, and their dogs too).

Just as long dead matter can be converted into the fuel that powers an outboard motor, humans can also harvest incredible amounts of energy from the memory of even one small act of genuine encouragement. On a day when a brother or sister is suffering from abuse or indifference, the memory of even one person’s belief in them, and interest in their success, may be the fuel that keeps them moving forward. O that we would internalize this truth; and not withhold little acts of encouragement from our neighbor! Be the tailwind that pushes always in the right direction, be it ever so gently, but let your love be felt by any sail that is open to you.

One secret that Christians wish were not so secret is that there is a free source of inexhaustible caring for every human being that has ever walked the planet. To the woman at Jacob’s well, Jesus declared,

“Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14)

Nothing gives more meaning to life and hope to the weary than the Savior’s declaration: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.” (Hel.14:8) Do we forget sometimes, that all of our trials can literally be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ?” Infinity from the Atonement outlasts every finite sorrow (and even the wrath of infinite punishment).

Of course, some headwinds are not able to be tacked successfully; some sails and even sailboats are completely destroyed by storms caused by powerful winds; and some sailboats rot on dry land. But the design of the sailboat is clear; it was made to travel across the water by the power of the wind. Similarly, we were made to progress through triumphs and trials by love. Not one person who came to earth was sent to fail: all of us have an inexhaustible supply of love to draw on, even in our darkest hour; even after we think we’ve lost our sail or our soul: the master carpenter is ever ready to repair us and supply us with wind for our voyage (see Ether 6:8). If we truly understand who we are, and that we were designed to run on love, how much more we can bless and be blessed by the wind all around us. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)