I met my best mate Raj through our common interest in boating. Over the years, as we trained and spent time together through numerous outings, I learned to trust his caution.
However, I somehow managed to bully Raj into some really hare-brained activities. One of which was to persuade him to crew with me for a boat trip to celebrate a friend's birthday party during the hungry ghost month.
I grew up oblivious to superstitions, and thought nothing of going out to sea when a supposed horde of ghosts or demons were roaming, but Raj was particularly nervous. There was little to be concerned about as we motored our way to our favorite anchorage. Yes, the sky was overcast, but there were gentle breezes and calm sea.
As sun-down approached both Raj and I became jittery, so we distracted ourselves by being part of the noisy party of giggling girls. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew through, followed by an eerie calm. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up even as Raj and I exchanged nervous glances. Even the flighty girls were spooked and were now talking in subdued tones.
Then, as the light waned, the sky took on an odd metallic green hue as a thick, fog-like mist rolled in with the same strange green color. "Shien, I think it is time to..." before Raj could say 'go', I had started the boat engine and he was on the anchor winch. But the anchor would not raise. We never had trouble at this site before.
The fog thickened and visibility dropped to just slightly beyond the boat. We were getting tense as I tried every trick in my playbook to raise the stuck anchor. Then I started praying and declaring God's authority over us, and invited His presence in our midst. In a few more seconds, the anchor freed, we motored out of the haze and returned to the marina. None of us spoke until we had tied off at the dock.
I told my Hindu friend that I had prayed. "I know", I could tell.
~ Shien, Yahweh-raah "The Lord my shepherd".
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