“When anyone asks me how I can best describe my experience in nearly forty years at sea, I merely say, uneventful. Of course there have been winter gales, and storms and fog and the like. But in all my experience, I have never been in any accident . . . or any sort worth speaking about. I have seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea. I never saw a wreck and never have been wrecked nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort.” Edward J. Smith, Captain, RMS Titanic.

Frequently, irony is found not so much in the events that play out but in the words and experiences of those involved in the events. The Titanic sinking would not have been ironic had statements regarding her as unsinkable not been so prevalent prior to her setting sail. Indeed, the fact that Captain Smith lost his life on what was already scheduled to be his final voyage would not be ironic without the fact that he had enjoyed such an incident-free career up to that point.

Why do these factors make the Titanic’s sinking ironic rather than simply tragic? Had the people sailing her not had such overwhelming confidence in the her capabilities, perhaps they would have taken added precautions to insure that she would not have sunk. Also, if Captain Smith had experienced a few scares in his career, perhaps he would have been more cautious in plotting his course. In other words, had those responsible for the ship’s safety had a different outlook, perhaps the tragedy would have been avoided or at least lessened.

Irony does not simply add another level of interest to already historically significant events. It will, if we recognize it and understand it, show us how we can arrive at destinations that are precisely the ones we are trying to avoid. It can also teach us that we can be wrong about that which we feel most certain, sometimes to our doom, but sometimes to our benefit.

When Jesus called the apostles to leave the lives that they had created for themselves behind and devote themselves to following Him, He chose an interesting assortment of characters. Perhaps the logical thing to do for someone attempting to revolutionize the belief system of an entire nation would have been to select from those who are most familiar with the existing religion because they would be more able to understand what you are trying to do and why you are trying to do it.

Instead, Jesus called the apostles from a wide variety of backgrounds but none of them could be called religious scholars. Several of them, in fact, were commercial fishermen, experienced in navigating the frequently treacherous waters of the Sea of Galilee but seemingly ill-prepared to lead a religious revolution with powerful speeches made before thousands of people and thoughtful writings which would be scrutinized for millennia.

However, Jesus took the opportunity of a dark and stormy night crossing of their home waters to show them that they would never be able to go back to the lives they had before they heard His call. Oh, the irony of a bunch of fishermen running to a sleeping carpenter because the seas are a little too rough.

Since they would never be any good as fishermen again, it was time for them to accept their new vocation, fishers of men. There was no going back so it was time to embrace the future that was in store for them with the one who really knew how to make it through a storm.

Those with recent losses—Family and friends of Joel Farinas

Tracee & Matt Health for Tracee and employment for Matt.

Doran Hougham, Bone Cancer

Dale Loofburrow, Judy Lundgren’s mother, Tina Vest and her husband for his diabetes. Jennifer Walden, Don Micheauy, Ruth Colgrove, Ford Vest, farther-in-law of Tina Vest,

Tina Vest, Frank Hermsen health and spiritual strength and guidance.

Steve Hogan, Bridgette's father, Joshua Richards, Bromerick Richards, Teresa Petta, Desri Crawford health.

Please remember all of the young people with ties to this congregation serving in our nation’s armed forces.