The Nautical Hour
Book Details
Author(s)Rev Tony Bailey
ISBN / ASINB005FU82T6
ISBN-13978B005FU82T1
Sales Rank635,402
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
Before the days of satellite guidance systems, navigation on the open sea took a great deal of skill and understanding. In order to point the ship in the desired heading, the navigator had to know more than where he desired to go, he had to know the ship’s present location. Since no landmarks are visible on the open sea, stable points of reference had to be discovered before the navigator could accurately triangulate the ship’s position. The night sky offered these reference points in the form of stars and celestial patterns. The navigator would study the stars and with a few simple calculations determine the approximant longitude and latitude of the ship. But the night sky offered no visible horizon toward which the ship could be directed. For the proper horizon to be found the navigator needed the light of day, which, with its arrival would wash away the visibility of the stars.
The Nautical Hour was soon discovered as the most crucial hour of the navigator’s day. The only time of day when the stars of night and the horizon of the coming day were both visible to the navigator was the period of time before sunrise when night is changing into day. Once the sun was up the navigator lost the ability to calculate the location of the ship, but during the Nautical Hour, the navigator could determine not only the location of the ship but also the proper heading.
Often through the hectic schedules of our busy days, we can only point our ship in the direction of what appears to be the right horizon and hope for the best. At night, we are able to reflect on the day’s events and decisions and to evaluate our present position. But, during that early hour before the rising of the sun we can determine both our position and direction if we are willing to spend time with Jesus. It is impossible to effectively determine our heading without knowing our present position. God has given us a time when we can come into His presence and discover not only our position in Him but where we can also chart our course in His chosen direction:
The Nautical Hour was soon discovered as the most crucial hour of the navigator’s day. The only time of day when the stars of night and the horizon of the coming day were both visible to the navigator was the period of time before sunrise when night is changing into day. Once the sun was up the navigator lost the ability to calculate the location of the ship, but during the Nautical Hour, the navigator could determine not only the location of the ship but also the proper heading.
Often through the hectic schedules of our busy days, we can only point our ship in the direction of what appears to be the right horizon and hope for the best. At night, we are able to reflect on the day’s events and decisions and to evaluate our present position. But, during that early hour before the rising of the sun we can determine both our position and direction if we are willing to spend time with Jesus. It is impossible to effectively determine our heading without knowing our present position. God has given us a time when we can come into His presence and discover not only our position in Him but where we can also chart our course in His chosen direction:
