He told us we should winter there in Crete.
Had we obeyed, we would have saved the ship.
Near Melita the cross tides roar and rip
Across the rocky shoals where two seas meet.
When we were wrecked, Paul nonetheless was sure
That we would all be saved. He seemed to know,
However wild the winter winds might blow,
In God's dear love His children are secure;
And even while the ship swept to its doom,
The love of God still held him tenderly.
Surrounded by the raging of the sea,
He did not see the darkness and the gloom.
Paul's strength and calm assurance make him seem
Like to a sturdy gallant ship with sails.
He trusts in God; his courage never fails.
He is a vessel strong in brace and beam.
He proves we have available at will
A haven safe from any raging storm,
Where we can rest and watch the scene transform
Until the sea of life is calm and still.
