Who builds a boat without a rudder? The same person who begins a year determined to be guided by God's spirit.
In Genesis 6:15, God commanded Noah to build an ark of specific dimensions, yet notably, this ark lacked a rudder. A rudder is essential for steering a vessel; without it, the vessel drifts unless controlled by something else.
God told Noah to build the ark without a rudder because he would guide us over the next year that it floated on the waters. Like Noah, who trusted in God's guidance over the ark's direction, we are called to surrender our direction to God's will. This act of faith in which we say, "Thy will, O Lord, not mine."
As the ark drifted for a whole year, it was God's hand that steered it to safety. As God guides us, we continue to sing, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," echoing the thoughts of the songwriter who said, "Lead me, guide me, along the way... Lord, if you lead me, I will not stray."
Our journey as African Americans is marked by a history of enslavement, segregation, and ongoing struggles for equality and justice; we had no master plan; we followed God's direction as he moved on the hearts of our leaders.
Much like Noah's ark, the African-American community has often found itself navigating turbulent waters without a conventional means of control. Generally, we trusted in divine guidance and relinquished personal control.
In the year ahead, we won't drift aimlessly if we continue to let our God's higher power guide us through the unknown waters ahead.
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