When He calls, what will say?

I have been reading about the search and rescue mission happening over in Italy this week with the tragic and devastating accident of the cruise ship Costa Concordia. In and of itself, it is so sad to look at that scene of the ship on its side and knowing there are people probably dead inside that were looking forward to a fun vacation in the beautiful Mediterranean.

There is another facet to this story that has caught the attention of news media and many bloggers: the captain abandoned ship!

It takes a simple Google search to see countless commentary on it, but let me add my own reflection.

When we live comfortably, when everyone around us is happy and healthy and the only care we really have is "what's for supper?", it is real easy to have a 'strong' faith in God. When God seems to be blessing us with all sorts of gifts, naturally we adore Him and love Him. But, when something goes awry, when tragedy hits, then that cushy faith is put to the test and asked to truly speak.

Do we love God just as much or even more in tragedy as we do in comfort?
Do we have faith in God when the world seems lost and hopeless as we did when we saw only joy?
Is our faith reliant upon my wellbeing, or is it deeper and truer than that?

The captain of that boat had a duty or etiquette assigned to his position on that ship. On that ship, he was the leader, the protector, the brains, the eyes, the heart and ultimately the soul - when he abandoned the ship, the ship was dead.

He was faced with a crisis and a challenge of extraordinary magnitude - his role as captain was challenged. When the ship was cruising the beautiful seas and oceans, it was easy to be a captain. When the rocks struck the ship, it was tested and he left.

I cant judge him, I don't know all the facts; but clearly something broke down, and as captain we look to him.

God is going to call us. God is going to challenge us. God is going to put us through crucibles and we are going to be stretched.

These are all good and necessary, but will our faith remain strong and steadfast, or will we abandon the ship?

When our call of duty comes from God, will we answer with Yes and deep faith and love, or will we scurry and hide from our God because we truly do not know Him?

When He calls us, what will we say?