This was for the time I had to surf waves at Nunivak Island, going home from fish camp in a small 18-foot red aluminum boat.  Red along its sides, the Lund Boat.  It was a 45-mile ride from the fish camp to Mekoryuk.

Knowing the unpredictability of the weather, which can change quickly, I placed the gear, dried fish and heavier items toward the middle with a tarp to tie it down. 

Then suddenly the wind picked up with white caps rolling. Unfortunately, in my direction.  As the waves got closer to the land, they became huge.  To avoid the thundering white caps, I was literally surfing the waves in this small aluminum skiff.  With a little 40 horsepower outboard motor I climbed or surfed down waves heading away from the land.

Then I realized that my gas tank was swinging on “E” for empty. I was going to switch to another tank with my fuel line, but I realized the fuel tank was different from the one I was using.  I shouted at the top of my lungs, complaining to him that I was the only parent left for my children.  Of course, that was selfish of me.  I literally fought for life in an uncertain amount of time running on fumes any moment.

I never prayed so hard in my life, yelling out loud to the Creator to give me a chance to reach for shore that harbored calm waters.  I never felt so consciously aware of everything around me, my fragile body, the waves, wind and white caps.  Finally, I managed to reach a tiny harbor behind the waves. 

I anchored the boat and took off my life jacket full of sweat mostly from inside out.  I check the gas tank, and tipped it upside down, nothing.  I took off the fuel line and opened both ends, empty.  I tried to restart the engine, no putter.  I sat down mouth open in bewilderment that I was running on empty all that time.

This strengthened my belief in the power of prayer. With all the many obstacles we face in life, it is a similar event that will invade every person.  To avoid, harm that could come to us, to always keep in prayer.  To understand our fragility in life of uncertainty.  But to literally live face-to-face with events the come before us.  Knowing our creator is there all the time.  Everything comes to pass.  My job is to find the steadfastness of faith that prevails in those challenges.  Every day, every moment of each breath.  For no one knows the body I borrow, my boat, my breath will disappear as the fuel becomes just as empty.