As a part of my new chaplain job, I get to share a morning reflection.  One that I shared this week had to do with a poem I heard as a kid which has stuck with me over the years.  The poem is by Ellen Wheeler Wilcox and there is a stanza which reads:

One ship sails east and another sails west,
Though the very same wind blows,
For it is the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which determine the way we go.

This poem has always reminded me that although we cannot control things like the weather, we can control how we respond to those things.  I think that aligns nicely with what Jesus was telling His disciples in John 16:33:

John 16:33 “… In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

We will face trials and troubles in our lives.  No matter how well we prepare, plan and pray, we will be impacted by situations which are beyond our control as we journey through this world.  And while we may not be able to control these situations, we can always control how we respond to these situations.   And we can face these situations with courage because we know that the Lord is with us and He will help us set our sails and respond in a way that honors and glorifies Him.