A ship is not a cathedral. There is nothing quiet and holy about the atmosphere. There are no leaded windows breaking the light softly to cast pastel coloured shadows. There is no organ music or a choir that fills the silence with harmony or words to move your soul. No one hums 'Pie Jesu' to transport your feelings to a place of peace. 

The Italian captain motions Chris to sit down on a crooked unstable chair in the small iron clad office. It is a busy office. The captain is en route home and is in the process of handing over to his replacement from Montenegro. The two communicate in difficult, frustrating English. English is not the mother-tongue of either man. The process is slow and complicated. The replacement makes a mistake on the computer, almost deleting important documents forever. Outside the office two of the men on board are involved in a heated argument. They shout angrily at each other. No one in the office even looks up to find out what it is about. Shipping agents rush in and out. Stacks of documents seem like chaos to the untrained eye. Cranes crackle and move. Iron bends as the ship’s curves are stretched and stressed by the movement of the water in the harbour. Dust and grease stick to everything, making it look black and dirty.  

A ship is no cathedral. A ship is like life. It is chaotic, loud and hard. It is real. It is removed from any pretence that life is quiet and peaceful.  

In the midst of this, Chris courageously tries to have a meaningful conversation with someone without being in the way. In a totally unexpected moment there is a break in the relentless rhythm of the chaos. Only the captain and Chris remain in the grey office. They talk about the Bible in Chris’ hand. In a tone of secrecy the captain says that his grandmother had told him about the book. Without prompt, the captain talks about the Man of the Cross. For a single moment there is peace.  

A while later a crew member from the Philippines approaches Chris in a short run to talk. He asks Chris whether he might have a Bible for him. His colleague sees this and immediately asks for a Bible too. Chris takes a picture of the two with their broad smiles.  

Not long after a third officer from India joins them. It is clear that something is wrong. He is only fifteen days into his contract but the depression and tiredness already attacked. He stares at Chris with empty eyes. It is clear that he longs for hope. Chris has time to spend with him and as they say goodbye, the man describes their meeting as the highlight of his fifteen days at sea. 

A ship is a cathedral. Every man working on the ship is a cathedral. A cathedral is not a hiding place to escape from life and its chaos. Rather, it is a place of peace and quiet in spite of the noise. It is not a place that pretends a peaceful or quiet life. Instead it is a place that allows us to find Hope, Love and Peace that transcends all within ourselves. This is the Peace that He gives that allows us to look at the chaos in a radically different way. 

It is a simple task - to remind seafaring men, within the chaos, of love, peace and hope. It is so incredibly important. Each of us needs this peace in these chaotic times. You can give this to seafaring men by supporting us financially. Please consider it in your prayers. 

May you also be blessed with His peace.