A New Thought – The World is the Field of Harvest
The top mast of The James bent nearly in two, and resistance against the lashing winds was in vain; as the prow of the ship sank beneath the raging waves one moment and soared up toward the stormy sky the next. It was February 14, 1743, and The James was returning from the West Indies with missionary leader Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf aboard.
Driven Toward Destruction
As the ship approached the coastline of Southern England, the North Atlantic gale relentlessly pushed her toward the jagged rocks jutting from the shoreline. The passengers and crew of the British vessel huddled below deck in fear for their lives. The winds shrieked as the ship pitched ominously, each hour driven closer to the English coast, and Captain Nicholas Garrison resigned himself to the inevitable.
A Calm Voice in the Storm
Turning to the quiet passenger standing by his side, he said the foreboding words, “Within hours, Your Excellency, we will be at the bottom of this ocean. The ship will not survive a crash against that rocky shore.” Raising his eyebrows in surprise at the stark prediction, Count Zinzendorf spoke confidently above the raging storm. “Captain, within two hours, this storm will be abated, and we will be sailing in calm seas once again.”
A Storm Abated
Captain Garrison shook his head in disbelief as both men fought against the lashing winds to join the crew and passengers below deck. In two hours, the captain of The James climbed carefully up the wooden ladder to the deck of his vessel; and, in wonder, he saw that the winds had shifted, the stormy clouds had parted, there were blue skies and placid seas surrounding the ship on all sides.
A Question of Faith
“Count Zinzendorf,” the captain inquired in awe, “how did you know that we would have these calm seas in exactly two hours?”
To be continued…
Tale Tuesday 094
Date: 3rd September, 2024
Title: : COUNT NIKOLAUS LUDWIG VON ZINZENDORF (Part 1)
Source: God’s generals- The Missionaries
Author: Roberts Liardon
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